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Senior official leaves for home from diplomatic visits

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-17 09:31

ANKARA - Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), early on Saturday morning concluded his visit to Turkey and left for home ahead of schedule due to the strong earthquake in China.

Full Coverage:
Qinghai Earthquake

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, will also postpone his visit to Saudi Arabia, Romania, Ireland and Montenegro.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which rocked the Yushu County in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu of Qinghai Province in northwest China on Wednesday, has killed at least 1,144 people and left 417 missing and 11,744 others injured.

Turkey was the second leg of Li's originally scheduled six-nation tour, which had also taken him to Germany. He had been scheduled to start his visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, and travel to Romania, Ireland and Montenegro next week.

To deal with the devastating earthquake in Qinghai, Chinese President Hu Jintao had also shortened a trip to South America, postponing visit to Venezuela and Chile originally scheduled for this week, while Premier Wen Jiabao had delayed his visit to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar scheduled for April 22-25.