More than 100 UN member states and international bodies have sent their representatives to the residence of China's UN mission to mourn Chinese earthquake victims, the Chinese mission announced Wednesday.

They included ambassadors or representatives from more than 100 UN member states, including Russia, the United States, Japan, South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Germany, Malaysia, Italy, etc.

Those who have paid their tribute also included the heads of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Program (UNDP), and representatives from some international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Conference (IOC) and the Arab League, as well as dozens of Chinese employees working at the UN headquarters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who paid a visit on Monday morning, bowed and stood in silence to mourn the quake victims. He asked Ambassador Wang Guangya, China's permanent representative to the UN, to convey to the bereaved families his condolences and sympathy and those of the UN Secretariat staff.

The permanent missions of some member states, including Peru, Turkmenistan, Tonga, Slovakia and Gambia, sent letters of condolences to the Chinese mission.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)