The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed condolences in response to the recent passing of renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa, highlighting Ozawa's significant contributions to Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges and his deep connections with China.

Ozawa, a globally acclaimed maestro, enjoyed a special bond with China, as he was born in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province in 1935 and spent his early childhood there. He died on February 6 at the age of 88.

"As a world-class conductor, Mr Ozawa was deeply familiar to the Chinese people. He was enthusiastic about cultural exchanges between China and Japan, and he made significant contributions to Sino-Japanese friendship through his performances and engagements in our country," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing on Monday.

Ozawa's dedication to fostering cultural ties between China and Japan was well-known. 

He had undertaken numerous performances and engagements in China over the years, actively contributing to the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship. 

Many Chinese netizens have expressed their heartfelt condolences over Ozawa's passing on social media.

The Chinese Musicians Association and the Chinese Embassy in Japan also sent their sincere condolence messages to Ozawa's family, expressing grief over Ozawa's passing.

"We hope that intellectuals and the general public from both countries will continue to pay attention to and support the development of Sino-Japanese relations, jointly composing the symphony of friendship between China and Japan across generations," Mao noted.