Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have expressed concern for the Chinese students injured or missing in a fire at a Moscow university, according to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

At least 34 Chinese students were injured and 17 others are missing as a result of a blazing fire that raced through a dormitory in the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University in Moscow in the early hours of Monday morning.

President Hu Jintao showed deep concern for the safety of Chinese students. Hu instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Embassy in Moscow to keep close contact with their Russian counterparts to gather the details of the fire, and take prompt, effective measures to take care of and make proper arrangements for the injured Chinese students and to find those still missing as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao extended his cordial regards to the injured Chinese students, and urged the Chinese Embassy in Russia to do its the utmost to assist the Russian side in the rescue efforts.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2003)