China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service.

Liao, 85, who was in charge of overhauling military logistics, died on January 23, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral.

“[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics,” the report said.

Liao and Zhang were both combat veterans and rose to high military office but one was bid a hero’s farewell while the other became a casualty of an anti-corruption campaign sweeping through the military.

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Liao was a veteran of the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts of the 1970s and 80s, in which Zhang also saw combat.