General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao meets with a delegation of ethnic minorities from Taiwan, headed by actor-turned-politician Kao Chin Su-mei in Beijing, Aug. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    Top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hu Jintao on Wednesday, Aug. 19 expressed his condolences to the Taiwan people for the deaths caused by Typhoon Morakot.

    Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, expressed deep sorrow on behalf of mainland people.

    "We share the same feeling with Taiwan compatriots, especially the ethnic minorities, who suffered serious life and property loss in the recent disaster. We are very much concerned," Hu Jintao said.

    He made the statement when meeting a delegation of ethnic minorities from Taiwan, headed by actor-turned-politician Kao ChinSu-mei.

    People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of one family and Chinese people have a long tradition of lending a hand to those in danger and difficulties, he said.

    "The difficulties Taiwan compatriots are facing mean the same to us. We will continue helping them in rescue and relief as well as support them in rehabilitation."

    As of noon Wednesday, 136 people were confirmed dead in Taiwan, 45 injured and 386 missing. The death toll did not include 523 people who were buried under mudslides in two villages.

    The mainland has so far donated about 176 million yuan (26 million U.S. dollars) and 25 million yuan of disaster relief materials to Taiwan, according to the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

    The first batch of prefabricated houses and 10,000 sleeping bags, 10,000 blankets and 1,000 sterilization appliances had reached Kaohsiung Tuesday.

    At the meeting, Hu Jintao also commended the ethnic minority people in Taiwan for their persistent efforts against invaders to Taiwan and to protect the dignity of their own people.

    They also made great contributions to the development of Taiwan and the whole Chinese nation, he said.

    "Ethnic minorities in Taiwan are important members of Chinese family," he said. "You have proved, with what you have done, that people across the Strait can work together to protect and make our home better as well as create a new environment for peaceful development."

    In the past year, cross-Strait relations made a historic turnaround, which is in line with the basic interests of people on both sides, Hu Jintao said.

    "I truly hope compatriots on both sides will work together closely to realize the revival of the Chinese nation."

    The mainland also decided to provide a special fund of 20 million yuan as a donation to the ethnic minorities who suffered from the disaster on the island.

    It was announced by Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in a separate meeting with the Taiwan delegation headed by Kao Chin Su-mei on Wednesday.

    Wang said the mainland's donation to Taiwan should be used to help the people living in the central and south parts of the island where the typhoon left serious damages.