Chinese Communist revolutionary leader Bo Yibo, one of China's first Communist revolutionaries and a member of the post-Mao circle of leaders known as the "eight immortals," has died at the age of 99. (File Photo)   Jan. 21 - The remains of Bo Yibo, a veteran revolutionary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who served in several key posts including vice premier, were cremated at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing on Sunday.

 

Bo died of illness last Monday in Beijing at the age of 99.

 

President Hu Jintao, former president Jiang Zemin and senior Party and government leaders Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun and Luo Gan attended the farewell ceremony.

 

Bo's remains were covered with a CPC red banner.

 

An official obituary described Bo as an excellent CPC member, a great Communist warrior, a great proletarian revolutionary and a prominent leader in the Party's economic work.

 

Born in Shanxi Province in 1908, Bo joined the CPC at the age of 17 and lived to be the Party's oldest member.

 

Bo had been a member of the 7th, 8th and 11th CPC Central Committees, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the 8th CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, and also deputy head of the former CPC Central Advisory Committee.

 

Bo played a prominent role in China's economic leadership. He was the first finance minister of the People's Republic of China.

 

As the deputy head of the committee for the reform of the economic systems, Bo also made his contributions to the country's reform and opening drive.

 

Bo devoted much of his time after retirement to the writing of memories and study of the Party's history. His works include a two-volume memoir that provides rare insights into the policy making processes of key historic events.

 

Bo Xilai, his son, is currently China's Minister of Commerce.