Leaders of Russia, Japan, France and Germany sent their condolences to Chinese leaders on Saturday over the submarine disaster that killed 70 Chinese Navy sailors aboard, the Foreign Ministry said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent condolence messages to Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also sent their condolence messages to President Hu Jintao over the submarine disaster.
In their messages, the leaders expressed their sorrow at the death of the Chinese Navy sailors and extended their sincere condolences through the Chinese leaders to the families of the victims of the disaster.
70 Chinese Navy sailors aboard a conventionally powered No. 361submarine were killed in an accident near the Neichangshan islands off eastern Shandong province.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2003)
