International community extends condolences to China over earthquake

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A large number of countries and international and regional organizations have extended their condolences to China for an earthquake that hit northwest China's Qinghai Province and that has killed at least 617 people.

Messages of condolences were sent to President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The 7.1-magnitude quake struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province early Wednesday, leaving at least 617 people dead, 9,110 injured and hundreds missing.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday extended profound condolences to Hu over victims of the devastating quake while pledging assistance in dealing with the aftermath.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued statements on the same day, sending condolences to the families of the quake victims and pledging assistance.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed "the most sincere condolence to the numerous victims in the tragedy" and was "confident of China's capacity to cope with the new ordeal."

French Prime Minister Bernard Kouchner said France stands ready to respond to aid requests from China.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she felt grieved and shocked at the casualties caused by the quake and extended the deepest condolences to the families of the quake victims and the people affected by the quake. Merkel said she wished those injured a quick recovery.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that at this difficult moment, Germany would stand on the side of China and offer assistance to the country's relief efforts.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said that Japan was ready to help with China's reconstruction efforts, adding that he hopes the affected areas will be rebuilt as soon as possible.

In a message sent to Hu, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak expressed on behalf of the people of his country and himself deep condolences to the victims and sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani extended their sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people. They said they believed the Chinese would overcome the disaster with courage and determination.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung offered the deepest condolences and expressed sympathy to the people affected by the quake. He said he believed the affected areas will return to normalcy under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government.

Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein sent his sincere condolences and deep sympathies to the families of the quake victims. He believed and hoped the Chinese government will accomplish the quake relief and reconstruction work.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also extended his deepest sympathy and condolence to the victims and their families.