Xi sends condolences to Indonesian president over deadly earthquakes, tsunami

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping sent condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Sunday over the casualties caused by deadly earthquakes and a tsunami that devastated Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn that the strong earthquakes and an ensuing tsunami hit Indonesia and caused a great loss of lives and property.

On behalf of the government and people of China and himself, Xi extended sincere condolences to the victims and sympathies to their family, the wounded and the people in the disaster-affected area.

Calling Indonesia a friendly neighbor of China, Xi said China shares the feelings of the Indonesian people and stands ready to provide assistance according to the needs of the Indonesian side.

The Chinese president said he believes that under the strong leadership of Widodo and the Indonesian government, the people of Indonesia will soon overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.

Multiple powerful and shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1 magnitudes on the Richter scale followed by a tsunami devastated the central province of Indonesia on Friday.

The death toll has jumped to 832 and is expected to rise, while some 540 people seriously injured and 16,732 people forced to flee their homes, a spokesman of the Indonesian national disaster management agency said on Sunday.