China offers condolences over Pakistani earthquake

BEIJING - China on Wednesday expressed condolences to the families of those killed and injured in a powerful earthquake in Pakistan.

"China is closely watching the Pakistan earthquake situation, expresses deep grief over those killed, and offers condolences to the families of those killed and injured," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing on Wednesday.

Hong's comments came after at least 208 people were killed in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan on Tuesday afternoon. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have respectively sent condolences to their Pakistani counterparts over the earthquake, Hong said.

"The Chinese government will offer emergency aid to Pakistan in accordance with Pakistan's needs," Hong said. Hong said so far no Chinese have been reported killed or injured in the earthquake. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, following the quake, made an investigation into whether Chinese citizens or institutions had been impacted by the earthquake.