BOAO, Hainan, March 28 -- Deep condolences were expressed for the passing of former Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew and the victims of the Germanwings passenger plane crash at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia on Saturday.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as all present at the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his deep condolences to the victims of the German plane crash on March 24 and extended his heartfelt sympathies to their families, as he started his keynote speech at the forum.

Mr Lee's departure is not only a loss on the part of the Singaporean people, but also a loss for Asia and the world, said Zhou Wenzhong, secretary-general of the BFA at the opening plenary of the annual conference in south China's Hainan Province.