Premier Wen Jiabao attends cremation ceremony of scholar Ren Jiyu

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended Friday the cremation ceremony of renowned philosopher, religion scholar and historian Ren Jiyu, who died on July 11 at the age of 93.

Ren was born in 1916 in Pingyuan County in east China's Shandong province. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in1956.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with a relative of renowned Chinese scholar Ren Jiyu during Ren's funeral in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2009. Ren, outstanding philosopher, religion scholar, historian and honorary director of the National Library of China, died on July 11 at the age of 93. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

"Ren conducted research and education in the fields of Chinese philosophy and religion for a long time. He has made significant contributions to the country's cultural industry by compiling historical materials," said a statement issued by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The cremation ceremony was held Friday morning at the hall of the Beijing Babaoshan Cemetery. Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, also attended the ceremony.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, along with former President Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang offered their condolences to Ren's family after Ren's death.