Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinosa on Wednesday talked over the phone about the swine flu epidemic that has so far killed 159 people in Mexico.

Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed his sincere condolences over the flu outbreak to Mexican President Felipe Calderon on behalf of the Chinese government and people, Espinosa said.

China is the first country in the world to provide Mexico with body temperature scanners, and it has also provided emergency humanitarian assistance worth US$5 million to the Mexican government, Espinosa recalled.

China has also shared with Mexico its experience in curbing the SARS outbreak, which is vital for Mexico to prevent and conquer the deadly swine flu, said Espinosa, who also expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance offered by the Chinese government and people on behalf of president Calderon.

"We were feeling the same way as the Mexican people ran into difficulties," Yang said, adding that the Chinese government and people will be with the Mexican government and people.

President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao were very concerned about the swine flu in Mexico and China is willing to offer all forms of help and support to the country, Yang said.

Yang also said China highly appreciated the Mexican government's timely and effective measures in face of the disease.

"We believe that under the staunch leadership of the Mexican government, the Mexican people will conquer the disaster and will back to normal life at an early date," Yang said.

He said that China will continue to work with Mexico in concerted efforts to confront the challenge.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)