China to honour ousted reformist leader

"In the middle of November, a commemoration to mark the 90th anniversary of Hu Yaobang will be held in Beijing," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Tuesday, without giving a specific date for the event.

"The central leadership, the party, political and military and other leaders from the grassroots will be present at the meeting, and the central leadership will deliver a speech."

The statement marks the first time since the Tiananmen pro-democracy movement that Chinese authorities have told the foreign press they are holding an event to honour the democratically inclined leader's birthday.