European leaders visited Monday the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union (EU) in Brussels to mourn the victims of the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan Province last week.

James Moran, director of the Asia Branch External Relations of the European Commission, and Dirk Sterckx, head of the Chinese delegation to the European Parliament, expressed solidarity with and support for the Chinese people following the May 12 earthquake on behalf of the EU.

Sterckx believed the Chinese people would overcome the quake, which left more than 34,000 people dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless.

He said he would push for the approval of a resolution on China's earthquake by a European Parliament plenary session on May 21 in Strasbourg.

Moran was shocked and saddened by the situation in the disaster area, speaking highly of the rapid reaction of the Chinese government and people.

He promised that the aid the EU pledged to China would soon reach Sichuan.

Nirj Deva, secretary-general of the EU-China Friendship Group in the European Parliament, conveyed his deep condolences in a letter handed by his assistant to the Chinese Mission as he was in Washington for a meeting.

Deva also commended the Chinese government's "quick, effective and humanitarian rescue efforts."

"Aware of the huge challenge the catastrophe has brought about to the Chinese government, Europe would try to provide any support and help needed," he said, vowing to urge the EU to speed up aid to China.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson phoned Song Zhe, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, from the Middle East to offer his condolences.

Mandelson commended Chinese President Hu Jintao's and Premier Wen Jiabao's presence in the earthquake-hit area to command rescue efforts, describing the Chinese government's reaction as quick and open.

China is observing from Monday through Wednesday three days of national mourning, during which entertainment will be halted and flags flown at half-mast on government buildings and Chinese missions abroad.

The Chinese mission to the EU and Belgium both held a three-minute silence at 08:28 AM (02:28 PM Beijing time), the exact time at which the earthquake struck Wenchuan County seven days ago.

Many diplomats from the EU and missions of other countries went to the Chinese embassy to Belgium to show solidarity with and express condolences to the Chinese people.

According to information reaching here from the Romanian capital Bucharest, Bogdan Olteanu, speaker of Romanian Chamber of Deputies, went to the Chinese embassy Monday and expressed condolences to the victims.

"I have come in a very sad moment for China and the Chinese people, a moment of sadness, a moment of solidarity," Olteanu said, adding, "I have come to present my condolences and compassion, and also on behalf of the Romanian Parliament and the Romanian people, our feelings of solidarity and friendship."

"I know huge efforts are made to save lives, huge efforts will be needed for reconstruction, but beyond all that there is the great loss. We have to stand by them in these difficult moments," he said.

According to Olteanu, solidarity signs from all countries will be shown, Romania included. "Romania has also experienced such catastrophes several times and we have also felt the solidarity of friendly countries. It is a very important gesture," Olteanu said.

Also Monday, ambassadors of Japan, India, Palestine, Belarus, South Korea, Syria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Austria, Egypt, Russia, Sudan, Algeria and Canada signed the condolence book in Bucharest.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)