Chinese Boston bombing victim's parents depart for U.S.

SHENYANG, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The parents of a Chinese student who died in the Boston Marathon bombing earlier this week will leave for the United States Friday evening, according to the foreign affairs office of Liaoning, the student's home province.

Lu Lingzi, a postgraduate studying at Boston University, was killed on Monday when two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line.

Lu's parents will be accompanied by two relatives, said an official from the office.

Condolences from President Xi Jinping have been passed on to Lu's parents, the office said.

"We are grieving and at a loss for words to describe the pain and sadness we are experiencing following the sudden passing of our dear daughter," said a letter from Lu's family posted on Boston University's website.

The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang issued visas to the parents on Thursday, said an official from the consulate.

The U.S. Embassy in China promised in a statement that it "stands ready to provide any assistance to the family members to ensure they are able to personally deal with this tragedy as easily as possible."

A memorial service has yet to be held at Lu's high school, Northeast Yucai, an elite school that only admits applicants with high examination scores.

Boston University has set up a scholarship fund in her name and has already received contributions totaling 560,000 U.S. dollars, according to the fund's online campaign page.

"Promise and potential, cut short," read an article posted on Boston University's website that mourned Lu's death.

President Xi Jinping on Wednesday expressed sorrow for Lu and instructed Chinese agencies to make their best efforts to handle the tragedy.

U.S. President Barack Obama grieved for her Thursday morning at an interfaith service honoring the victims of the bombing.

"And in the heartache of her family and friends on both sides of the great ocean, we're reminded of the humanity that we all share," Obama said.

A Chinese student named Zhou Danling was severely injured in the bombings.