Leaders and officials from many international organizations and countries on Tuesday expressed condolences to China over the deadly earthquake that jolted southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Xizang on Tuesday morning.
The earthquake's epicenter was situated in Tsogo Township, Dingri County, within the city of Xigaze, with 27 villages and a population of around 6,900 people residing within a 20-kilometer radius of the affected area.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "is profoundly saddened" by the devastating loss of life caused by Xizang's earthquake, his spokesperson said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the UN chief wished a speedy recovery to those injured and expressed his sincere condolences to the victims' families.
"The United Nations is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide support if requested," Guterres said.
European Union Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who is in charge of preparedness and crisis management, expressed grief for the victims on Tuesday. She also said the EU stands ready to provide assistance to those affected.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his "sincere condolences" over the earthquake, adding that Russia hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday expressed his condolences over earthquake in Xizang on social media platform. Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric also reiterated Serbia's full support for China.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also sent condolences, expressing his sympathy for the victims and their families.
Global leaders express condolences to China over Xizang earthquake
Starting from Jan 1, "Beijing Service," a service platform backed by the Beijing municipal government, extended its coverage to the city's two international airports, setting up 24-hour kiosks to facilitate visitors from abroad.
On the first day of 2025, two Beijing Service kiosks near the international arrivals areas of Beijing's Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport were put into use, with well-trained staff providing 24-hour multilingual services for global travelers.
"This year we have set up service stations in Beijing's Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport to provide travelers with one-stop services including payment setup, mobile phone services, and transport and tourism consultation, covering four categories of more than 20 convenient services. The services aim to further facilitate foreigners to study, travel, or live in Beijing, and to upgrade the level of Beijing's international services," said Zhang Li, division chief of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services and Data Management.
The move came after the city's recent poll with international visitors on what could be done to improve their experience in China, aiming to better support the surging global visitors brought by the country's visa-free policies.
The Beijing Service platform can now provide a one-stop solution to newcomers, and address most of the common concerns of foreign travelers.
"So far, I haven't had any problems, and it seems quite straightforward and it's easy to follow the instructions, everyone gives clear instructions, so it's quite easy to follow. So far everyone I have talked to is able to give feedback (on) what I needed, so it's been good," said Rahima Siddiqui, a traveler from New Zealand.
Beijing Service platform offers one-stop solutions to int'l visitors
