European Parliament (EP) President Hans-Gert Poettering expressed condolences to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao after a devastating earthquake hit China's Sichuan Province.

"It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I seize the opportunity, on behalf of the European Parliament, to express to you and to the citizens of China my most sincere condolences for the tragic consequences of the recent earthquake," he said in the message.

He said his sympathy primarily "goes to the families of the victims and I express the hope that many survivors can still be freed from the rubble by the rescue workers."

"China can always count on European and international solidarity and support when facing a similar plague," he said.

On the same day, two other members of the European Parliament also voiced condolences to the victims of the earthquake that has left nearly 15,000 and thousands of people still buried under the rubble.

In a message to Song Zhe, Chinese Ambassador to the European Union (EU), MEP Bogdan Golik said that he truly wished "all the injured people to recover as soon possible."

"Words really can not express how sad we all feel because of this tragedy," said Golik, who is among the delegation for relations with China.

MEP Jose Ribeiro e Castro sent his letter of condolences through fax.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)