European leaders visited Monday the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union (EU) in Brussels to mourn the victims of the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province last week.

James Moran, director of the Asia Branch External Relations of the European Commission, and Dirk Sterckx, head of the Chinese delegation to the European Parliament, expressed solidarity with and support for the Chinese people following the May 12 earthquake on behalf of the EU.

Sterckx believed the Chinese people would overcome the quake, which left more than 34,000 people dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless.

He said he would push for the approval of a resolution on China's earthquake by a European Parliament plenary session on May 21 in Strasbourg.

Moran was shocked and saddened by the situation in the disaster area, speaking highly of the rapid reaction of the Chinese government and people.

He promised that the aid the EU pledged to China would soon reach Sichuan.

Nirj Deva, secretary-general of the EU-China Friendship Group in the European Parliament, conveyed his deep condolences in a letter handed by his assistant to the Chinese Mission as he was in Washington for a meeting.

Deva also commended the Chinese government's "quick, effective and humanitarian rescue efforts."

"Aware of the huge challenge the catastrophe has brought about to the Chinese government, Europe would try to provide any support and help needed," he said, vowing to urge the EU to speed up aid to China.