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 support 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 leadership 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 US$50,000 to the quake-hit areas via the Chinese embassy to Cambodia.

Singaporean 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 Singaporean 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 support 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 support 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 2:28 PM (0628 GMT) Monday, killing thousands of people in eight affected provinces.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)