South Korea expressed "strong regret" Monday over clashes between anti-China activists and Chinese residents during Sunday's Olympic torch relay amid concerns that public outrage here may harm Seoul-Beijing ties.

The Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon met with Chinese ambassador to Seoul Ning Fukui and delivered a message of regret.

"Ambassador Ning visited the Foreign Ministry to thank the South Korean side for providing tight security measures for the torch relay," a senior ministry official said, asking not to be named. "We showed him police reports on violence caused by some young Chinese people and expressed strong regret." While briefly talking to reporters after the meeting, the ambassador sought to contain further fallout from the incident.

"What I want to stress is that Chinese people, especially Chinese students here, have good feeling about South Koreans," Ning said. "(I) will continue efforts not to damage the public sentiment of both nations. I think it requires joint efforts by the two governments."

He also expressed a wish for the recovery of those injured. Thousands of Chinese, waving their country's red national flags, tried to thwart rallies by those protesting against China's crackdown on Tibetans and repatriation of North Korean defectors, as the torch passed through downtown Seoul on Sunday.

The demonstrations turned violent when some Chinese hurled stones and water bottles. A few protesters and riot police were injured, according to police.

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap)