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Chinese President Expresses Condolences to Putin on Air Crash
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a message of condolence Friday to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the deaths of 86 servicemen, women and children, who were killed in a crash of a Russian military plane Wednesday.
"On behalf of the Chinese people and the government, and in my own name, I express my condolences to you," Jiang said, "and I ask you to convey my condolences to the relatives of the victims."
Jiang said he was shocked to learn of the accidental crash of a Russian Il-18 military transport plane in the Georgian port town of Batumi on Wednesday.
The plane reportedly went down in heavy fog in mountains near Batumi as it was preparing to land. Batumi is home to one of four Russian military bases in the former Soviet republic.
It was the first crash of the Il-18 transport plane since it was put into service 42 years ago.
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