More countries and international organizations on Saturday and Sunday sent messages of sympathy and solicitude to China over the recent snow havoc in southern parts of the country.

In their messages, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke highly of the joint efforts and effective measures by the Chinese government and people to combat the protracted bad weather.

They expressed the belief that the Chinese government and people will be able to tide over the disaster and resume normal life in the snow-stricken areas soon.

They also expressed readiness to provide assistance within their power and wished the Chinese people good luck in the upcoming Spring Festival.

The worst winter weather in five decades in China has snarled the country's central, southern and eastern regions over the past three weeks and brought huge economic losses.

Statistics showed that the snow has so far killed at least 60 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 1.76 million people. From January 25 to 31, a total of 5.8 million passengers were stranded throughout the railway system and more than 8,000 cargo trains were affected.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)