Singapore's President S.R. Nathan sent a condolence message on Wednesday to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao for the victims "who suffering immense sorrow and despair following the earthquake in Sichuan Province".

"I am especially saddened by the great loss of lives and the numerous children and youths, who have been so tragically killed by this deadly disaster," the president said in the letter.

He added that the Chinese government's "unflagging effort and swift response" to the disaster, despite the limitations of terrain and distance, and the mobilization of all the Chinese people "is highly commendable."

He is confident that under Hu's "able and decisive leadership", China will quickly overcome the consequences of this tragic event and help restore people's confidence and resoluteness in facing such unforeseen disasters.

The earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan Province in western China on Monday. More than 14,000 people have been reportedly killed in the natural disaster.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)