More foreign gov'ts, leaders offer condolences to China over deadly
quake
May 13, 2008
More foreign governments and leaders Tuesday sent messages to Chinese
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, or issued statements, to
express their deep condolences over the massive earthquake in
southwestern China and show their sup****t to the Chinese government
and people for their arduous efforts in disaster relief.
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and former king Norodom Sihanouk
expressed their condolences to the people in the disaster areas,
saying they believed the Chinese people, under the leader****p of the
Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, would overcome
the natural disaster and rebuild their damaged homes.
Sihanouk personally sent aid worth 50,000 U.S. dollars to the quake-
hit areas via the Chinese embassy to Cambodia.
Singa****ean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Chinese government
has swiftly carried out disaster relief work, and expressed his belief
that China can overcome the disaster. The Singa****ean government is
willing to provide any possible aid to China, he added.
Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali said that upon this
sorrowful time he expressed the most sincere condolences to the
victims' families and the Chinese people.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said the unity of the Chinese
society and the organizational capacity of the Chinese government are
the two trumps that will enable China to overcome the difficulties,
adding that the Chilean government and people firmly sup****t the
Chinese government and people in their disaster relief efforts.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Foreign Minister Maxime
Verhagen extended their condolences over those killed and expressed
their solicitude to the people in the disaster zones, saying their
country is willing to provide aid.
In a statement, Slovenia, which holds the rotating European Union (EU)
presidency, expressed its deep condolences over the huge damages and
casualties caused by the quake, and its deep sympathy to those who
lost their families and also to the injured.
Spain's government led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
expressed "its deepest sorrow" to China for its thousands of deceased
and victims caused by the earthquake. The Spanish embassy in China
said Spain is willing to provide necessary assistance to China.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed his condolences
Monday night over the heavy loss of life in the strong earthquake.
He said the Chinese government is commended for its quick and
efficient response, adding Britain would be ready to provide
assistance.
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis expressed her condolences to
the government and people of China for the victims of Monday's
earthquake. She said that the Greek government is willing to provide
necessary sup****t to China.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he had written to Chinese
Premier Wen to offer expert help and express Australia's sympathy in
the wake of the earthquake. Rudd added that Australia stood ready to
offer assistance to help in the aftermath of the disaster.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith also expressed condolences
on behalf of all Australians to those affected by the terrible
earthquake in Sichuan province.
New Zealand acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen extended New
Zealand's sympathy and condolences to China over the deadly
earthquake.
"China has immense capability of its own but New Zealand stands ready
to assist in an appropriate way if we are asked," he added.
Canada offered condolences to China over the heavy life and property
losses in the devastating earthquake, said a joint statement issued by
Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and Beverley Oda, Minister of
International Cooperation.
"We are greatly saddened by the news that thousands lost their lives
and that hundreds of children who were at school at the time are
trapped in the debris," the statement said.
"Canada stands ready to help should China request any assistance in
its humanitarian relief efforts," the statement said.
The EU ambassador to China Serge Abou, Saudi Arabian Ambassador Yahya
Bin Abdul-Kareem Al-Zaid, Cape Verde's Ambassador Julio Cesar Freire
De Morais and the Czech Republic's embassy in China also extended
their condolences and sympathy to the country over the quake.
A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan county, 159 km northwest of the
southwest Sichuan province's capital of Chengdu, at 14:28 (0628 GMT)
Monday, killing thousands of people in eight affected provinces.
Source: Xinhua
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