Chinese FM offers deep sympathy to victims in quake-hit Haiti

TOKYO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechion Saturday extended condolences and deep sympathy to families of the victims in quake-hit Haiti.

"We feel great regret over the heavy casualties and enormous damage to properties caused by the major earthquakes in Haiti," said Yang in an interview with Xinhua and China Central Television(CCTV).

"On behalf of the Chinese government, I express sincere condolences and deep sympathy to people in Haiti," said Yang, who arrived late Friday to attend the 4th foreign ministers' meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

"The Chinese government has decided to send emergency humanitarian aid package worth 30 million yuan (4.41 million U.S. dollars) to Haiti, and China's Red Cross Society has pledged 1 million U.S. dollars in emergency aid," he said, adding that a Chinese emergency rescue team, including medical workers, has arrived in Haiti to help with the rescue operations.

Yang said that China's humanitarian attempts were greatly appreciated among the foreign ministers at the meeting.

On the eight Chinese peace-keeping police officers trapped under rubble in Port-au-Prince, Yang said that the Chinese people are deeply concerned for their survival.

And the Chinese foreign ministry will work with the departments concerned to do everything possible to speed up the search for the officers.

The two-day FEALAC foreign ministers' meeting opened Saturday to discuss various issues facing the international community and both regions.