China sends condolences over Japan quake

BEIJING - China's top political advisory body on Friday sends its condolences to quake-hit Japan and hopes that the Japanese people can recover from the disaster soon.

"We are deeply concerned with the well-being of the affected population and hope that they can surmount the difficult situation as soon as possible," said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the fourth session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Related readings:  32 killed in major tsunami after 8.9 Japan quake  Nuclear plants near Japan quake safely shut  Chinese NGO rescue team ready for quake relief  Chinese firms asked to ensure staff safety after Japan quake

"I still have vivid memory of the brave Japanese people who overcame the hardships after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, therefore, I am confident that they can recover soon," Zhao said.

An 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan Friday afternoon and triggered powerful Tsunami. Nuclear power plants were shut up, traffic on the Shinkansen high-speed railway lines suspended and Narita International Airport closed.

The Chinese mainland will not be affected "obviously," despite a tremor felt in parts of Beijing, said top Chinese seismological official Chen Jianmin.

Chen said that Chinese earthquake rescuers are fully prepared to go to Japan to join earthquake relief work if needed.

Qiu Lili, team leader of the Beijing Red Cross Blue Sky Rescue Team, told Xinhua that they have contacted the Japanese Embassy, expressing their will to help.