Wan Li in a group photo with students from special class for gifted students at University of Science and Technology of China Anhui,Hefei, in 1979. [Photo/IC]

Wan Li, former chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, died at the age of 99 in Beijing at 12:55 pm Wednesday, according to a statement from the central authorities.

In an obituary jointly issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, NPC Standing Committee, State Council and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Wan was praised as an "excellent Party member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the state."

He also served as secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier.