BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday afternoon paid a three-minute silent tribute to victims of the May 12 earthquake in the central government compound of Zhongnanhai in Beijing.

At a ceremony that began at 2:28 p.m., Hu, in a dark suit with a white flower pinned to the chest, bowed his head under a national flag which was lowered at half-mast. He looked sad and solemn.

Hu was joined by his colleagues in China's top decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

The short ceremony took place while air raid sirens, cars, trains and ship horns sounded across the Chinese capital and most public activities came to a halt in the city, as part of the nationwide observation of a three-day mourning period for the quake victims.

It was the exact moment a week ago that the devastating 8.0-magnitude tremor hit Wenchuan County and its neighboring areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province, claiming 32,173 lives and leaving more than 220,000 injured as of 7 p.m. Sunday in Sichuan Province.

Nationwide, the confirmed death toll climbed to 34,073 by 12 a.m. on Monday, while the final figure was estimated to exceed 50,000.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin also stood in silence for the quake victims at a separate place at the same time.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, observed the silence in Beichuan County of Sichuan, one of the worst hid regions in the earthquake. Li was in there overseeing the rescue and relief work.

The State Council, China's cabinet, on Sunday ordered a nationwide display of respect for the dead of the quake. The ongoing torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, slated to open on Aug. 8, was also suspended from Monday to Wednesday.

Flags are flying at half-mast across China and all public amusements have been suspended from Monday, as the country of 1.3 billion people enters the three-day mourning period.

Chinese diplomatic missions abroad also observed the mourning, some holding the silent tribute simultaneously with domestic public despite the time difference. Condolence books were opened in the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world.

The Chinese president just returned from a three-day visit to the quake-hit areas. During the trip, Hu stressed, "Quake relief work has entered the most crucial phase. We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory."

He asked rescuers on Sunday to use "every available means" to reach every village affected by the earthquake, instead of just working in towns and cities.

Shortly before the national silent mourning, a 5.4-magnitude aftershock hit Qingchuan County of Sichuan, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The tremor, which occurred at 2:06 p.m., was the latest major quake monitored following more than 20 aftershocks above magnitude5 that rocked the hardest-hit area in Sichuan.

Source: Xinhua