Premier: China ready to extend a hand

BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday expressed condolences and sympathy to victims of Japan's earthquake and tsunami and said China stands ready to give Japan more help.

"I want to use today's opportunity to extend our deep condolences for the loss of life in this disaster and to express our sincere sympathy to the Japanese people," Wen said at a news conference. "China is also a country that is prone to earthquakes and we fully empathize with how the Japanese people feel now," he added.

He recalled that when the massive Wenchuan earthquake hit in May 2008, the Japanese government sent a rescue team to China and also offered supplies.