China has expressed deep condolences on the death of former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica, who died on May 13, at the age of 89. He had earlier been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
Chinese President Xi Jinping personally extended his condolences to Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, noting that Mujica dedicated his entire life to the well-being of the Uruguayan people and was deeply loved by them. Xi wrote that the Chinese people have lost an old and good friend, observing that Mujica had long been committed to the development of China-Uruguay relations and made positive contributions to the cause of friendship between China and Uruguay.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described Mujica as a prominent leader of Uruguay, deeply respected and loved by the Uruguayan people, adding that he was also an old and good friend of the Chinese people.
President Yamandú Orsi, to whom Mujica was a political mentor, wrote on the social media platform X: “Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people.”
In the 1960s, Mujica helped found the National Liberation Movement-Tupamaros (MLN-T), more commonly known simply as the Tupamaros, a Marxist-Leninist group which, influenced by the Cuban revolution, took the road of armed struggle.
During this period, Mujica was captured four times. On one such occasion, in 1970, he was shot six times and nearly died. He escaped from prison twice, on one occasion through a tunnel with 105 other Tupamaro prisoners.
During the more than 14 years he spent in prison during the 1970s and 1980s, he was tortured and spent most of that time in harsh conditions and solitary confinement, until he was freed in 1985 when the military dictatorship ended.
Along with other former Tupamaros he was instrumental in the 1989 founding of the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), which became and remains the largest party in Uruguay’s Frente Amplio (Broad Front) left-wing coalition.
He was elected as a parliamentary deputy in 1994 and as a senator in 1999. He served as President of Uruguay, 2010-2015, during which time he pursued an anti-imperialist foreign policy, strengthened the trade unions, significantly increased workers’ wages, and implemented many progressive social and economic reforms.
Following his presidency, he continued to serve as a senator, until retiring from public office in 2020.
Throughout, he was known for his extremely simple and humble lifestyle. In 2022, he told Al Jazeera: “I believe that politicians should live like the majority of their people, not like how the privileged minority lives.”
The following articles were originally published by Xinhua and Global Times.
Xi extends condolences over death of Uruguay’s former president
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday extended condolences to Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi over the death of former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica.
In his message, Xi expressed deep condolences on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and extended sincere sympathies to Mujica’s family and the people of Uruguay.
As a renowned leader of Uruguay, Mujica dedicated his entire life to the well-being of the Uruguayan people and was deeply loved by them, enjoying a high reputation in the international community, Xi said in the message.
Mujica had long been committed to the development of China-Uruguay relations and made positive contributions to the cause of friendship between China and Uruguay, Xi said, adding that the Chinese people have lost an old and good friend.
Xi said he attaches great significance to developing China-Uruguay relations and looks to work with President Orsi to continue promoting the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership.
China expresses deep condolences over former Uruguayan president Jose Mujica’s passing: FM
In response to a question from Spanish news agency Agencia EFE regarding the passing of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Wednesday that Mujica was a prominent leader of Uruguay, deeply respected and loved by the Uruguayan people. He was also an old and good friend of the Chinese people and made positive contributions to the development of China-Uruguay relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.
We express our deep condolences over his unfortunate passing and extend our sincere sympathies to his family and the people of Uruguay, said Lin.
