The government and people of China have extended their sympathy and cordial regards to all the south and southeast Asian countries for the losses they incurred from the devastating earthquake and tsunami tidal waves, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing on December 28.

At a regular press conference, Liu said China donates 21.63 million yuan (about 2.615 million US dollars) worth of emergency relief goods to the relevant countries. The first batch of its relief goods, including carpets, cotton blankets, medicine and related materials, was sent to Sri Lanka Tuesday afternoon, he noted.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale rocked off Sumatra Island, Indonesia on Sunday, setting off tsunami tidal waves that claimed more than 24,000 lives.

"We learned from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok that seven Chinese tourists were injured in the tremor," acknowledge Liu. "They are undergoing medical treatment in Phuket Island, some of them are in rather grave condition but none critically."

The Chinese government is very concerned with the safety of compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, who have been stranded in the tsunami-ravaged areas, Liu said. To date, he added, some residents from Taiwan have contacted personnel of Chinese consulates in Thailand for help with their travel documents.

Source: Xinhua