EU foreign policy chief sends condolences to China over earthquake

BRUSSELS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday sent condolences to China over the earthquake in its southwestern Sichuan Province, which has killed 193 people.

"On the eve of my visit to Beijing, the news of the earthquake in Sichuan Province has profoundly moved me. I send my condolences to the families of those affected," said Ashton in a statement.

Ashton, who is scheduled to visit China for April 25-28, said she had observed that the quake has caused "considerable damage, mounting loss of life and many challenges faced by rescue workers."

"The resilience of the Chinese people in the face of disaster and the work done by volunteers on the scene is impressive," she said.

According to the latest report, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Lushan, Sichuan Province, on Saturday left 193 dead, 25 missing and 12,211 injured, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced Tuesday.

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