Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a visit to the Japanese Embassy in Beijing Friday afternoon to convey a message of condolences for the victims of last Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Hu told Japanese Ambassador Niwa Unichiro that, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended his sincere sympathies to the Japanese people as well as condolences to the victims of the earthquake.

As China and Japan are neighboring countries separated by a narrow strip of seawater, the Chinese people deeply felt the pain that the Japanese people are suffering, said Hu.

China is helping with the quake relief work, and will continue to provide necessary assistance to Japan, he told the Japanese Ambassador.

"We wish the Japanese people would overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homeland at an early date," Hu said.

Hu also thanked the Japanese government for offering help to the Chinese citizens in the quake-stricken areas under such a difficult situation.

Ambassador Niwa also thanked President Hu for visiting the Japanese Embassy despite of his busy working schedule.

President Hu on Monday offered condolences to Japanese Emperor Akihito over the massive earthquake that jolted off the northeastern coast of Japan last Friday, said Niwa.

The Chinese government has immediately provided relief assistance for Japan and sent out a 15-member rescue team to help Japan with the relief work, said the Japanese Ambassador, adding many Chinese citizens had also extended consolations to the Japanese people.

"The people of Japan have been carrying out quake relief operations with the aid of the international community," said the Japanese Ambassador,"the Japanese government will strive to ensure the safety of the Chinese nationals in Japan and spare no efforts to provide assistance and convenience for them."

The Japanese Ambassador also said that Japan was willing to keep close contact and communication with China in this regard.

Hu was accompanied by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng, as well as Chen Haosu, chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.