BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to acting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the death of President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez was an outstanding leader of Venezuela and a distinguished politician in Latin America, who had devoted all his life to national development and social progress, and earned respect and support from the Venezuelan people, Hu said in his message.

The Chinese people lost such a great friend, who had promoted the China-Venezuela strategic partnership and contributed to enhancing bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas and cementing friendship between the two peoples, Hu said.

China was willing to work with Venezuela to deepen their bilateral partnership and bring benefits to the two countries and peoples, he said.

Chavez, 58, died of cancer at a hospital in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Tuesday.