Former student bids farewell to foreign friend

Song Yang, from Zhengzhou, bid a final farewell recently to Hans, a close foreign friend for 14 years.

A file photo of Song Yang holds a birthday party for his Swiss friend Hans in China.

Song met Hans in Britain the third day after Song arrived in London in 1999, aged 19, according to a report by Dahe Daily.

Song helped Hans, born in Switzerland in 1933, carry his heavy bag and helped him home. Learning Song was looking for a place to live, Hans invited him to move in. Hans helped Song settle down in London and Song helped care for Hans.

In 2007, when Song completed his studies and returned to China, he brought Hans with him and continued to take care of him.

On Dec 14, the 80-year-old died in Zhengzhou and Song, now 33, completed his care by holding Hans' funeral.