Chinese embassies and consulates around the globe have expressed their condolences for the victims of the May 12th earthquake. They are flying the national flag at half-mast, in response to a declaration by China's State Council to observe three days of national mourning. In this way, Chinese diplomats will be able to symbolically honor and remember the thousands of people who lost their lives in the powerful earthquake which struck China's southwest region.

During a memorial ceremony at 8 pm local time in Moscow on Sunday, China's national flag was lowered to half-mast in front of the Chinese embassy in Russia. More than 300 people attended the ceremony, including all Chinese staff of the embassy and their families. China's ambassador to Russia, Liu Guchang, led the ceremony.

The Chinese embassy in Brazil also held a memorial ceremony at 5 pm local time on Sunday. China's national flag was lowered to half-mast and all the staff at the embassy stood in silence for three minutes to mourn the victims.

Meanwhile the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. flew the national flag at half mast at 4:56 pm. And China's ambassador to the US, Zhou Wenzhong, says all embassy staff members will stand in silence for three minutes to grieve for their dead compatriots -- at exactly the same moment all Chinese will honor the victims of the Sichuan earthquake -- beginning at 2:28 pm on Monday.

(CCTV May 19, 2008)