Li Ximing, member of the Political Bureau of the 13th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, died of illness on Monday in Beijing at the age of 82, said a statement from the CPC.

Li was also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, and former party chief of Beijing.

He was "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter and an excellent leader in his work," the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2008)