Vietnam has sent condolences to China over the sinking of a cruise ship in the Yangtze River on Monday.[Special coverage]
"We wish to send our deepest condolences to Chinese government, people and families of the victims. We believe that search and rescue efforts of Chinese government will help soon find the missing people," said Pham Thu Hang, vice spokesperson of Vietnam' s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hang made the statement at a regular press briefing held in capital Hanoi on Thursday.
Hang said Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang on Thursday sent condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the ship tragedy; Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent condolences to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang over the tragedy while Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh sent condolences to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the tragedy.
