By Li Xiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-22 08:37

Government officials from more than 20 developing countries made a donation on Wednesday in Beijing to convey their deepest and sincerest condolences to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

The foreign officials are participating in a training program on town government management for developing countries organized by the China Center for Town Reform and Development. But the tragedy of the May 12 earthquake has also made their stay in China an experience "full of profound sympathy and touching memories".

A foreign official participating in a training program on town planning in Beijing makes a donation yesterday to victims of the Sichuan quake. [China Daily]

"The participants of our program are deeply moved by the heartbreaking stories of the victims, and the swift relief efforts made by the Chinese government. They decided to come together during the national mourning period to make a donation as a way to express their heartfelt sympathy for the Chinese people," Wei Wei, deputy director of the center, said.

Many of the participants have been following the news of the earthquake on TV.

They said they were greatly touched by the miracles of life and the heroic stories.

"We consider the people of China as our brothers and sisters and we take the loss of the Chinese people as our own loss," Syed Rizvi, a civil servant from Islamabad, Pakistan, said. "We feel the pain and loss the Chinese people are suffering because Pakistan experienced a similar devastating earthquake in 2005."

Many of the foreign officials hope the Chinese people, through their relentless efforts and the support of the international community, will come to terms with the tragedy soon, and build a new and better life.

"We are here to offer this small financial donation as a token and a gesture of our love and support for the people of China during this difficult time. We hope that the money will be used to bring some relief to the victims on their road to recovery," Cephas Cooper, a government official from the Bahamas, said.

The training program, which will end on June 4, is part of a foreign aid project by the Chinese government to train government officials from developing countries on township management and development. The participants are from Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.

This time, the participants will not only bring home China's advanced experience in township reform and development, but also memories of love and compassion shown by the people.