SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov sent a message to Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov, expressing profound condolences over the tragedy in Kemerovo.
The message reads, in part:
"We are profoundly shocked by the news of the catastrophicfire at a shopping centre in Kemerovo on 25 March 2018, which involved massive loss of life. The mere fact that there were so many children involved causes us great pain.
"The Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation expresses sincere condolences to the people and Government of the Russian Federation, as well as to the regional authorities of Kuzbass in connection with this tragedy.
"Please convey our heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victimstogether with our wishes of rapid recovery to all those who received injuries during this tragic event."