China receives more sympathy messages in wake of snow havoc

BEIJING—Messages of sympathy continue to flow into China from foreign state leaders and international organizations as the country remains busy with disaster-relief efforts in the wake of the crisis caused by heavy snowfalls.
State leaders who have sent their messages of sympathy to Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao included Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Serbian President Boris Tadic, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Heads of government, including Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Ottri, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Vanuatuan Prime Minister Ham Lini and Bosnia and Herzegovina cabinet chief Nikola Spiric also expressed their sympathy to the Chinese people in recent days. They spoke highly of the relief efforts by the Chinese government, saying the government will surely win the battle against the extreme weather and succeed in promoting the development of various sectors in the country.
Margaret Chan, chief of the World Health Organization, also sent her sympathy to Chinese leaders.
The Malaysian government pledged 1 million U.S. dollars to China in aid. Heavy snow has been falling in China’s eastern, central and southern regions since mid-January, leading to deaths, structural collapses, blackouts, accidents, transport problems and livestock and crop losses in 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China. More than 100 million people have been affected, and at least 60 people have died as a result of the severe weather.
The Malaysian Government announced on Wednesday that it will donate 1 million U.S. dollars to help China’s snow havoc victims. “The worst snowstorm in decades ravaged most of Central and Southern parts of China ... and the conditions in the affected areas were exceptionally severe after being hit by the snowstorm.” the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a press release issued at Putrajaya, administrative center of the Malaysian government.—Xinhua