(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-16 10:40

NANCHANG -- An Olympic torchbearer from Finland expressed his condolences and prayed for the earthquake-hit areas in southwest China during Friday's relay in Nanchang, Central China.

"I firmly believe that China has the capability of overcoming this calamity and I would like to do whatever possible to help," said John Shibutani, the only Finnish torchbearer during the Nanchang leg relay in Jiangxi province.

"I think the torch relay is also a good way of passing the blessings and care to those killed or injured in the quake," he said.

Working as a technical manager in the Hi-Tech Development Zone, 35-year-old Shibutani has been in the "City of Heroes" for nearly two years with his wife and three sons.

"Before I came here, everybody around had tried to persuade me to drop this 'crazy' idea of coming to Nanchang. However, it turned out to be quite a surprise," said Shibutani.

"Nanchang had already been a modern city by the time of my arrival, and I was honored to witness its fast development in recent years."