Flags fly at half-mast ahead of former Chinese premier Li Keqiang's cremation

Flags are being flied at half-mast in Beijing as China prepared to cremate late Premier Li Keqiang.

Li died from a heart attack in Shanghai at 68 years old last week. China's ruling Communist Party said in an official obituary that Li’s death was "a significant loss for the party and the country", describing him as an outstanding party member.

It added that Li "was full of affection for the people and strived to resolve their outstanding difficulties in employment, education, housing, medical care and elderly care, shore up the bottom line of their livelihoods and continuously improve their happiness".