Foreign governments and international organizations continued to extend condolences after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Yushu County of northwest China's Qinghai Province two days ago, willing to offer assistance to the affected area.

In a phone conversation with the Chinese Ambassador to Spain Zhu Bangzao, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega expressed on behalf of the Spanish government its sincere condolences to the Chinese government and its people, saying the Spanish people take the Chinese people as their friends while their thoughts are with the Chinese people in the face of the disaster.

"The earthquake hit China's Qinghai Province on April 14 has led to large number of casualties and masses of loss," said the Georgian Foreign Ministry in its Thursday statement, adding that "its people and government send heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the quake."

Muratbek Imanaliev, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said in a statement Thursday he was astonished to know about the great losses caused by the disastrous earthquake and conveyed his sincere condolences to the victims and the people affected by the quake, adding that the peoples of the SCO member states would be with the Chinese people in this moment of difficulties.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in a statement issued late Wednesday: "It was with great concern that I heard of the powerful earthquake that hit Qinghai province yesterday. On behalf of myself and my colleagues at the IMF, I would like to offer my sympathy to those affected by this devastating natural disaster. Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones and with the people of China as they work to recover from this terrible tragedy."

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement on Thursday he was saddened by the news of the earthquake in China.

"My thoughts are with the Chinese people and those families who have suffered terrible losses. Britain stands ready to provide assistance if requested by the Chinese government," he added.

The Japanese Federation of Economic Organization (Keidanren), Sumitomo Corporation, and Shiseido Corporation have donated to the quake-hit area through the Chinese embassy in Japan on Thursday.

Yoshio Nakamura, director general of the Keidanren, said Japan, also a earthquake-prone country, was willing to do what it could to help the quake-affected region in China's Qinhai Province.

According to the disaster relief headquarter in Yushu County, until 1630 (0830 GMT) on April 15 Beijing time, the earthquake has already killed 760 people and injured another 11,477.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2010)