(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-21 20:15

ANTANANARIVO  -- Mauritius donated 300,000 US dollars on Wednesday to earthquake victims in southwest China, according to reports reaching here from Port Louis.

The donation was presented to Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius Gao Yuchen by Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam Wednesday morning when Ramgoolam went to the Chinese Embassy to express his condolence to the victims of the strong earthquake that hit southwest China on May 12.

"It is with great sadness that we learnt of the calamity that befell the People's Republic of China," He wrote in the condolence book prepared by the embassy.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. May I on behalf of the people of the Republic of Mauritius and the government present my condolences to the People's Republic of China," the prime minister wrote.

In an interview with the local media following the donation, Ramgoolam said the people and the government of Mauritius share the sadness and sorrow with the Chinese people for the great loss of human lives and properties caused by the earthquake.

The prime minister added that with the donation, he wanted to show Mauritians' sympathy and solidarity with the Chinese people at this moment of difficulty.

Gao Yuchen thanked Ramgoolam and the Mauritian government for their sympathy for the bereaved families their assistance to the Chinese government and people.

The ambassador also briefed the prime minister on the current situation in the quake-stricken areas.

On May 14, Ramgoolam sent a message to Chinese President Hu Jintao, expressing his grief and sorrow for the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage caused by the quake.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12. The death toll in the quake rose to 41,353 as of 12:00 p.m. Wednesday (0400 GMT), according to the Information Office of China's State Council.