Xi grieves over Taiwan plane crash   

习近平向台湾空难遇难同胞表示哀悼

正在拉美地区访问的中共中央总书记习近平得悉台湾一架客机失事造成重大人员伤亡，深感痛心，他专门要求国务院台办即向台湾有关部门转达他本人和大陆人民对遇难者的深切哀悼、对其亲属的诚挚慰问。[查看全文]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed condolences after a deadly plane crash in Taiwan Wednesday evening.

Xi, who is on a Latin America tour, felt "deeply grieved" after learning the tragedy has caused heavy casualties, said a statement from the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (SCTAO).

Flight GE 222, operated by Taiwan's TransAsia Airways, crashed at around 7 p.m. while attempting to land in stormy weather.

The twin-engine ATR-72 turboprop aircraft was traveling from Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan to Penghu Islands in the west with 58 passengers and crew on board.

Rescuers have so far recovered 36 bodies, a local fire brigade official said.

Xi told the SCTAO to convey to relevant Taiwan departments his deepest sympathies over the loss of lives, and extended condolences to the relatives of the victims.

The SCTAO statement said the head of the office had been in contact with Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, adding that the Chinese mainland stands ready to provide any assistance.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits also conveyed Xi's sympathies and condolences to the heads of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation.