Endless messages of condolence and support are pouring in from the international community after a strong quake hit China's northwestern province of Qinghai.

Numerous countries and organizations have sent condolences to the Chinese government and its people through statements or speeches, expressing their sympathy and offering assistance to quake-stricken areas.

In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Li Baodong briefed John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, on the latest developments in the quake zone and the Chinese government's rescue work.

Holmes expressed deep sympathy for the heavy casualties caused by the quake and admiration for the Chinese government's efficiency in organizing the earthquake relief work.

He said that he believed that under the strong leadership of their government, the Chinese disaster relief and reconstruction will prove successful.

UN humanitarian relief agencies will respond to the request of the Chinese government and provide necessary assistance at any time, Holmes added.

On Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York, representatives from nearly 40 countries expressed their condolences to the Chinese government and its people through China's Permanent Mission to the UN.

Diplomats from the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely France, Britain, Russia and the United States, and ten non-permanent members of the council including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Nigeria, Lebanon and Uganda, offered their condolences to China before opening a public debate on the situation in the Middle East.

Before making formal statements at the meeting, representatives from around 20 other countries including Argentina, Botswana, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Cuba, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tunisia and Venezuela also expressed their condolences.