Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom sent his sincere sympathy to the Chinese government and people, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake expressed deep sympathies and condolences to the Chinese government and people with his belief that the Chinese government will lead the country to win the battle against the disaster.

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al Busaidi, Secretary-General of the Omani Foreign Ministry, sent sincere condolences over the huge loss of human life and property, and expressed grief over those killed in the quake and their families.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed al-Khalifa and Foreign Ministry Assistant Under-secretary Aziz expressed their sincere sympathies to the Chinese government and people, as well as deep condolences to the families of the victims. With the belief that the Chinese people could win the battle against the disaster, they said Bahrain will offer help to China in its power.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, senator and chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said the Philippines would like to provide any help to China in its power and hoped China could feel the friendship and support from the Philippines. The Philippine Senate has passed a bill to express condolence and support for the Chinese government and people.

On behalf of all the delegations attending the 84th session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, sent sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people, expressed grief over the victims, and hoped the injured could recover soon and the people in the affected areas could resume normal life as soon as possible.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Sichuan province Monday afternoon, killing more than 12,000 people.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)