Zia, 80, who died in Dhaka on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, was Bangladesh's first woman prime minister and dominated the country's politics for decades.
Zia was a three-time prime minister and held the position of chairperson of BNP. She played a major role in restoring democracy after a period of tumultuous military rule.
In a condolence letter addressed to Zia's son Tarique Rahman, China's envoy Yao Wen said the former PM was a steadfast champion of freedom and a key figure in her country's political history.
