Chinese president extends condolences to Colombian counterpart over landslides

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping sent on Sunday a message of condolences to his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos over the flooding and landslides that hit the Latin American country and caused heavy losses of life and property on Saturday.

On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people as well as in his own name, Xi extended his deep condolences to the victims, and sincere sympathy to the afflicted and the families of the victims.

The Chinese people would like to offer help in disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction, he said, adding that he also believed that the Colombian people will definitely be able to overcome the aftermath of the disaster and rebuild their homeland under the leadership of President Santos and his government.

Flooding and landslides killed at least 193 people and injured 202 others on Saturday in the Colombian city of Mocoa, the capital of southwestern Putumayo department.