World leaders mourn Fidel Castro's death

File photo taken on April 19, 2016 shows Fidel Castro (L, Front) and Raul Castro (C, Front) attending 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, in Havana, Cuba. Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro died on Nov 25, 2016 at the age of 90, said his brother Raul, the current leader of Cuba. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Leaders, renowned people around the world on Saturday mourned the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and offered condolences to his family and the Cuban people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Saturday called Castro "a great figure of our times," saying that he "will be remembered by history and people."

"The death of Fidel Castro has made the Chinese people lose a close comrade and sincere friend. His glorious image and great achievements will go down in history," Xi said in a message of condolences to his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro. "The great Comrade Fidel Castro will be forever remembered."

Castro died late Friday at the age of 90.

"The name of this outstanding statesman is considered to be a symbol of an entire era in modern world history. A free and independent Cuba built by him and his colleagues has become an influential member of the international community and served as an inspiring example for many countries and nations,"

Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying in a Kremlin statement.

Vietnam also sent condolences to Cuba, saying the Vietnamese leaders and people were deeply mournful about the passing of Castro. It called Castro a great leader of the Cuban people, and an unyielding communist and revolutionary leader of Latin American nations, who struggled for peace and national independence, freedom and socialism.

Brazilian President Michel Temer said Saturday that Fidel Castro was a "leader of convictions," who "marked the second half of the 20th century with the firm defense of the ideas in which he believed."

Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lamented Castro's death in a statement, calling him a "visionary" and "one of the most important political contemporaries."

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, another former president of Brazil, said losing Castro was like losing an older brother.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Saturday called on the people of the world "to rediscover" themselves following the example of Fidel Castro.