Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed condolences over plane crash near Shymkent

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent a telegram to his Kazakhstan colleague Yerlan Idrissov with condolences over the plane crash near Shymkent, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry’s press-service.“It was with deep sorrow that I took the news of the crash of Kazakhstan plane AN-72 that claimed several human lives. On behalf of China’s Foreign Ministry and me personally, I express deep grief over the victims and sincere condolences to their families,” the telegram reads. The AN-72 military plane of the Border Control Service of Kazakhstan National Security Commission crashed at 06:55 p.m. on December 25, 20km from Shymkent airport. The plane had 7 crew members and 20 militarymen onboard, including the acting head of the Border Control Service of Kazakhstan National Security Commission Turganbek Stambekov.Earlier condolences over the tragedy in South-Kazakhstan oblast were expressed by presidents of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.