On the afternoon of January 4 2005, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan paid visits to the Indonesian and Sri Lankan embassies in China, which were holding condolence activities, extending deep condolence to the dead of the two countries and expressing sincere sympathy over the tremendous casualties and property loss in the earthquake and tsunami on behalf of the Chinese government and people. (The Indonesian and Sri Lankan embassies in China started to accept condolence from the outside on the same day.)

Tang Jiaxuan said that as friend to neighboring countries, the Chinese government and people share the same feeling with our neighboring countries and had taken immediate actions to provide financial and material assistance to the tsunami-stricken countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka and would actively participate in their reconstruction and epidemic prevention efforts after the disaster. He expressed confidence that with the leadership of the two governments and the help of the international community, the people of the two countries will surely defeat the disaster and rebuild their homeland.

Aa Kustia, Indonesian Ambassador to China, and Nihal Rodrigo, Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, extended their gratitude to China for the fast, effective and generous assistance and sang high praise for the Chinese leadership, government and people for sharing pains with the people in difficulties in the disaster-hit countries. The governments and peoples in Indonesia and Sri Lanka will attach greater value and attention to developing the comprehensive brotherly cooperation with China.