Chinese special envoy expresses condolence to families of victims from Icheon explosion

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A special envoy of the Chinese government Monday expressed condolence to families of Chinese victims from the Icheon warehouse explosion.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is visiting South Korea as special envoy of the Chinese government, sent food and commodities to the families of Chinese victims in Icheon, 80 km southeast of Seoul, and expressed his condolence to them through officials of the Chinese Embassy in South Korea.

Wang met with South Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Song Min-soon in Seoul on Monday. During the meetings with Lee and Song, Wang expressed concerns to the explosion in Icheon that killed 12 Chinese citizens and injured another Chinese last Monday. He urged the South Korean side to do its utmost to deal with the problems arising from the accident and take measures to avoid similar tragedies.

Wang arrived here on Sunday and is to return to Beijing on Wednesday.

The explosion at a warehouse in Icheon killed a total of 40 people and injured 10 others on Jan. 7.