Japanese PM offers condolences to China over quake

TOKYO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama conveyed his condolences on Wednesday over the deaths of hundreds of people in a strong earthquake that jolted China's Qinghai Province earlier in the day.

In a message sent to Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Hatoyama said Japan is ready to help with China's reconstruction efforts, adding that he hopes the affected areas will be rebuilt as soon as possible, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said earlier that the Japanese government has confirmed with the Chinese government that China does not need emergency assistance from Japan at this point.

"It's our view that depending on the future situation, we will spare no efforts to extend all the assistance possible," he said at a news conference.

About 400 people have died and 10,000 others were injured after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwest China's Qinghai Province early on Wednesday.