Xi sends his condolences to Marcos

President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Thursday to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after the country was hit by a powerful tropical storm that triggered flooding and landslides across country and left 150 people dead.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn about the heavy loss of lives and property caused by the storm. On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, he expressed condolences over the death of the victims and extended sincere sympathies to the injured and families of the bereaved.

The president said he believes that under the leadership of Marcos and the Philippine government, people in the storm-hit areas will certainly overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.

China is willing to provide assistance in its capacity to help the post-disaster reconstruction work in the Philippines, Xi added.

More than 355,400 people fled their homes as severe Tropical Storm Nalgae pounded the archipelago nation late last week and over the weekend.

AFP cited disaster officials as saying on Thursday that more rain was forecast in some of the hardest-hit areas.