Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met on Thursday the
children of the two Chinese victims who perished in terrorist
attacks on the Pentagon on September 11, extending condolences to
their parents on behalf of the Chinese government and its people.
"The Chinese government and the Chinese people's hearts go out to
you and your parents," said Tang at Willard Hotel in Washington DC,
where he met the victims' children: Zheng Shidong, Zheng Rui and
her husband Wan Li.
Zheng Yuguang and Yang Shuyin, the two confirmed Chinese victims in
the New York and Washington attacks, were passengers of the
American Airlines flight 77, which was hijacked and used by
terrorists as a missile to hit the Pentagon on September 11
morning.
The Zhengs were on their way back to China after visiting their
daughter and son-in-law, who live in Fairfax, Virginia. They
boarded the plane at the International Airport at Dulles in
suburban Washington.
Tang bowed to a framed picture of the late Zhengs, held by Zheng
Shidong, their eldest son. He wished Zheng Shidong and his sister
could recover from grieves as soon as possible.
"We are grateful that our country gave us so much help and care, "
said Zheng Shidong. "We cannot imagine how we could face this
tragedy without support from our motherland and our people." he
added.
Immediately after New York and Washington DC fell victim to the
violent terrorist attacks, Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a
message of sympathy to his US counterpart to express his sympathy
and condolences. Jiang was also concerned about the safety of all
Chinese in the United States, asking the embassy and consulates in
the states to do all their best to help those Chinese who were
affected by the attacks, Tang said.
About one week ago, the Chinese ambassador went to Fairfax to see
Zheng Rui and her husband, soon after her parents' had been
confirmed dead.
( 09/23/2001)