Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday sent messages of condolence respectively to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte over the crash of a Malaysian passenger plane in eastern Ukraine.

In the message to Najib, Li said he was shocked to learn of the crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which left 298 passengers and crew members dead.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I hereby express sincere sympathy to the Malaysian government and people and convey deep condolences to all the deceased on board," Li said.

In the message to Rutte, Li said that he was shocked to learn that a large number of Dutch passengers were killed in the MH17 crash.

"I, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, express sincere sympathy to the Dutch government and people and convey deep condolences to the deceased from your country," Li said.

The Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a Boeing 777-200, crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, leaving all the 298 passengers and crew members dead, including 192 Dutch passengers.