Charity performances to raise money for victims in the quake-devastated areas in southwest and northwest China have been held in Italy and Germany.

The association of overseas Chinese in Rome on Thursday hosted a charity performance in the Galileo school, in the center of Italy's capital.

Many Chinese artists that study in Italy, students in Rome, the Rome chorus as well as artists from Bangladesh and India presented wonderful performances in the hall of the school.

Another charity concert for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake was held in the German city of Hannover on Thursday evening.

The concert was co-sponsored by the Chinese Scholars and Students Association in Hannover, the Chinese Center in Hannover and the Confucius Institute in Hannover.

A large number of Chinese students who study in the Hannover University of Music and Drama, as well as musicians, participated the performance.

Dieter Stolle, professor of the Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, said he has a lot of Chinese friends, so he can sympathize with the sufferings of the people in the disaster area.

Stolle said he hoped everyone could give freely to the quake fund and bring hope to the affected people for a better future.

Zhang Wen, chairwoman of the Chinese Scholars and Students Association in Hannover, said the concert received a great deal of support from many Germans and Chinese students.

A massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, leaving 69,163 people dead and 374,142 others injured as of Friday noon, according to State Council Information Office.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2008)