The European Union (EU) said on Tuesday that it "stands ready" to provide aid to China, which was hit by a devastating earthquake on Monday, once conditions on the ground permitted it.

"Noting China's readiness to welcome foreign assistance, the EU stands ready to provide it as soon as conditions on the ground permit it," said a press release issued after a special session of the EU development ministers Tuesday in Brussels.

The ministers expressed their "deepest" condolences for the loss of life and devastation caused by the strong earthquake in China.

"We share the grief of all those who have lost loved ones and express our heartfelt sympathies to those who have been injured and suffered heavy material losses in this catastrophe," said the ministers.

A strong quake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province Monday afternoon.

The quake has so far left more than 12,000 people dead and over 26,000 others injured.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)