(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-19 18:07

BEIJING - China's Foreign Ministry opened a condolence book on Monday morning for foreign diplomats to mourn for those who died in the May-12 earthquake in Sichuan Province.

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

"Cote d'lvoire and China always maintain a close relationship. The Chinese people were so badly hit by the quake this time and we want to bring our sympathy to them and condolence 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 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 its people were ready to assist and support China in whatever way it may need.

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