China on Monday offered its deep condolences over the death of Jimmy Carter, saying the former U.S. president was the "driving force" behind the establishment of diplomatic ties between both countries more than 40 years ago.

Praised in China for normalizing relations between Washington and Beijing, Carter’s decision to sever official ties with Taiwan has been a target of criticism

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday expressed his personal “deep condolences” over the death of former President Jimmy Carter at the age of 100.