China extends condolences on Saudi monarch's death
中国悼念沙特已故国王

Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken on the phone with Saudi Arabia's new king, Salman, and extended condolences over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz at the age of 90 on Friday.

President Xi said that King Abdullah was an old friend of China and contributed a lot towards the cooperation and friendship between both countries. King Abdullah's half-brother Crown Prince Salman has become the new ruler. State television announced that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died in hospital at 1 am local time. He had been in hospital for several weeks, suffering from a lung infection. State television showed throngs of mourners gathered in Mecca. The 79-year-old Salman, had increasingly taken on the ailing Abdullah's responsibilities over the past year.