A massive earthquake in Indonesia triggered devastating tsunami this morning, inflicting heavy causalities and enormous property losses in a number of countries in Southeast and South Asia. Some of the Chinese citizens in these areas were besieged but no casualty has been reported yet. The Chinese government pays close attention to the situation.

Li Zhaoxing has asked Chinese Ambassadors to related countries to express condolences to the foreign ministers of these countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed Chinese embassies and consulates in related countries to cooperate closely with those countries to go all out to rescue Chinese citizens victimized.