The final farewell to the late Queen Elizabeth II is taking place all the way to China, where a condolence book has been opened at the UK Embassy in Beijing.
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde
The symphony of pedestrian lights and the smell of gingko trees in the fall cannot disturb the solemnity of the moment, under the late afternoon sun, the queue lengthens on the sidewalk of the residence of the British Ambassador in Beijing.
Emotion
Behind a large bouquet of flowers, this former Chinese student in Birmingham hides her emotion: “ These are flowers I prepared for the queen. I did my Masters in the UK twenty years ago. At the time, relations between our two countries were harmonious. »
Silence and contemplation, everyone has their own motivations to greet one last time the one who was also the first British head of state to go to Beijing in 1986. Steven Zhong, consultant in sustainable development: “ Me, I like James Bond films and British cinema. Her Majesty embodies this culture and she has promoted world peace. »
” We respect her so much »
Elizabeth II, “weapon” of the soft-power British. On the sidewalk of the embassy district, the footsteps of the soldiers of the people’s army clack at the time of the changing of the guard. Black dress, parasol, Zara Zhu also remembers her stay in England when she was a student: “ I had the great good fortune to see the queen during a parade. We respect her so much. »
The queen’s disappearance has sparked widespread interest here in China, particularly in Hong Kong where locals lined up to lay flowers at the British consulate. And China plans to send a high-level delegation to the funeral. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan is expected to arrive in London on Sunday September 18.
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