Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) China's chief negotiator with Taiwan has called his counterpart to offer assistance following gas explosions in Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung in which 26 people perished and more than 280 others were injured.

Sources said that Chen Deming, president of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, called Lin Join-sane, chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, late Friday to convey China's sympathy for those affected by the accident.

Chen also said that China is willing to provide assistance if it is needed, sources said.

Lin reportedly thanked Chen for the offer but said Taiwan had put its comprehensive disaster relief system to work and has no need for outside help for now.

Chen's call came after a Xinhua News Agency report earlier Friday that China's President Xi Jinping had instructed Taiwan affairs officials to express condolences to the victims' families and good wishes to those injured on his and the Chinese people's behalf.

(By Yin Chun-chieh)
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