French President Francois Hollande expressed Saturday wholehearted solidarity to the Chinese people and the government after a devastating earthquake hit China's southwest Sichuan Province.

"France salutes the courage and mobilization showed by all those presented on the ground to provide relief to affected populations," the French president said in a statement.

The president's office said Hollande will take the opportunity of his visit to Beijing next week to renew his condolences.

Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry said in its statement that France shares the grief of the Chinese people and is ready to offer help, to provide any assistance needed.

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Ya'an City in southwest China's Sichuan Province Saturday morning. A total of 160 people had been killed and 6,700 injured.

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