Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday sent messages to leaders of seven
Asian countries hit by the tsunami to offer condolences to the victims.
In separate messages to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indian
President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, Sri Lankan President Chandrika
Kumaratunga, Bangladesh President Iazuddin Ahmed, Maldivian President Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, Malaysian Supreme Head of
State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, President Hu offered
condolences to victims of the disaster on behalf of the Chinese government and
people.
Hu said he believed governments and peoples of these countries can overcome
the difficulties and rebuild their homeland.
The president also ordered the Chinese Foreign Ministry to gather information
on Chinese citizens affected by the tidal wavesand offer assistance to them.
An earthquake, measuring 8.9 on the Richter Scale, was registered Sunday west
of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering tsunami, or tidal waves, in
south and southeast Asia.
More than 6,000 people in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Maldives,
Thailand and Malaysia have been killed by the waves.
