Lei Jieqiong, a founder and former leader of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), died of illness in Beijing on Sunday. She was 106.

Lei, with a master's degree from the University of Southern California, was also a well-known law and sociology scholar as well as a famous educator.

She was chairwoman of the 7th to 9th Central Committee of the CAPD, and honorary president of the 10th and 11th CAPD Central Committee.

A close friend of the Communist Party of China, Lei served as vice chairperson of the 6th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and vice chairperson of the standing committees of the 7th and 8th National People's Congress.

?Lei Jieqiong. [File photo]