China expresses condolences over death of Gorbachev

BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- China has expressed condolences over the death of former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Mr. Gorbachev made positive contributions to the normalization of China-Soviet Union relations," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily news briefing.

"We mourn his death and express our condolences to his family," Zhao added.