Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has expressed her deep shock on Wednesday's severe earthquake struck in Qinghai Province of China, which took hundreds of lives and damaged huge properties and infrastructure.

In a condolence message sent to Yang Jiechi, her counterpart of China, she said, "We grieve with the Chinese people at this hour of their sorrow and stand firmly in solidarity with them."

In a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry Thursday, she said "I am confident that the Government and people of China will overcome the aftermath of the tragedy with courage and fortitude."

On this sad occasion, it said, Moni also conveyed her personal condolences to her Chinese counterpart.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2010)