China has extended its condolences over the deaths of 224 people in the Russian plane crash in Egypt over the weekend.
"The Chinese people stand side by side with the Russian people at this sorrowful moment," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi have sent messages of condolence to their counterparts, said Hua at the ministry's routine press briefing.
An Airbus A-321 operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia crashed with no survivors in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday morning, shortly after it took off from Egypt's Red Sea Resort Sharm el-Sheikh. It was was carrying 217 passengers, mostly Russians, and seven crew members.
