U.S. senate passed a resolution Monday extending condolences to heavy casualties and property losses caused by the severe earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, the resolution also urged the U.S. President George W. Bush to actively respond to any request of humanitarian aid from the Chinese side.

The resolution, jointly proposed by democratic Senator Barbara Boxer and republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, was jointly signed by 19 senators from both parties, including Democratic presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama.

The U.S. House of Representatives also has passed a similar resolution to extend condolences to China's earthquake disaster.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)