Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China   

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Foreign Ministry opened a condolence book on Monday morning for foreign diplomats to mourn those who died in the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province.

    In the ministry's Oval Hall, where the signing ceremony was held, a big map marking the epicenter and signs saying: "Unite as one in the relief effort" in black and white made the site sad and solemn.

    Coffie Alain N. Papatchi, Cote d'lvoire's Ambassador to China, became the first envoy to sign the book of condolences.

    "Cote d'lvoire and China always maintain a close relationship. The Chinese people were so badly hit by the quake and we want to bring our sympathy to them and condolences to the victims," Papatchi told Xinhua.

    "We feel deep sorrow and we have deep solidarity with the Chinese people as a good neighbor of China," said Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao

    "We have also experienced such catastrophes and we admire the calmness, determination and resolve of the Chinese people to deal with the tragedy," Nirupama Rao said, stressing that India and itspeople are ready to assist and support China in whatever way it may need.

    "I believe the Chinese people will be sure to further unite together, overcome the tragedy and successfully host the forthcoming Olympic Games," said Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Shin Jung-Seung, noting that his government and people are ready to offer further assistance and support for China's relief efforts.

    Russian Ambassador Razov Sergey said all the Russian people, from state leaders to ordinary citizens, felt great pain over the suffering that the destructive quake had brought to the Chinese people and would continue to support China with humanitarian aid as well as various supplies.

    Russia has flown tonnes of humanitarian aid to China, including tents and blankets, and the Russian rescue team discovered a survivor in Dujiangyan, a city near Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan.

    According to Razov, Russia is preparing to provide China with mobile hospital facilities for post-quake medical services.

    Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto said his country is sympathetic with China's loss.

    "The quake is so devastating and beyond anybody's expectations," Miyamoto said, adding that Japan expects to forge closer cooperation with China on quake relief cooperation since the country also frequently has earthquakes.

    The Japanese rescue team will spare no efforts in searching for the survivors and help the locals rebuild their homes, Miyamoto noted.

    More than 200 rescuers from Japan, Russia, the ROK and Singapore are in Sichuan to help with rescue and relief work.

    The Japanese government sent a 60-member disaster relief team to China on Friday, the first batch of foreign aid personnel to enter China since the 8.0-magnitude earthquake jolted China's southwestern Sichuan province.

    The team, together with Chinese colleagues, had recovered 18 bodies.

    Meanwhile, the Singaporean rescue team, in Hongbai town, one of the worst-hit areas in Shifang City, had recovered five bodies.

    The rescue team from the ROK, in Yinghua town of Shifang City, had recovered 17 bodies.

    Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters after the ceremony that China and the Chinese people feel wholehearted gratitude to the friendship and support offered by foreign governments and peoples during the disaster.

    According to Yang, leaders of 166 foreign countries and over 30international organizations already expressed their condolences to China and the country has received official donations from governments and organizations valued at about 246 million U.S. dollars.

    Many foreign embassies in China on Monday lowered their national flags to half-mast in mourning for the quake victims. According to information from the Foreign Ministry, as of 11 a.m. Monday, 80 foreign diplomats had already signed the condolence book.

    Millions of people in China and overseas observed three minutes of silence at 2:28 p.m. Monday, which is part of three-day national mourning for those who died in the earthquake. More than 32,000 people have been confirmed dead and the estimated death toll could top 50,000.