Japan tsunami: Indian PM speaks to Kan, offers more assistance

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh has spoken to his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan and
offered any additional assistance Japan may require to deal
with the devastation caused by the twin disaster earlier this
month.
Singh had a telephonic conversation with Kan on
Wednesday during which he expressed deepest condolences over
the loss of life and property in Japan consequent to the
recent earthquake and tsunami, the Indian Ministry of External
Affairs said in a release here on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said the people and the Government
of India stood solidly with the friendly people of Japan in
their hour of grief.
"He also offered to make available any additional
assistance that Japan may require. The Prime Minister
expressed confidence that Japan would emerge from the calamity
as an even stronger nation," it said.
The Japanese Prime Minister expressed deep
appreciation for India's solidarity and support, as the
country coped with the enormous natural disaster.
"He was touched by Prime Minister's gesture of
visiting the Japanese Embassy to sign the Condolence Book. He
thanked the Prime Minister for the assistance that India had
provided," the ministry release said.
Premier Kan had also written a letter to Prime
Minister Singh expressing similar sentiments, in response to
the latter's message of condolence sent on 11 March 2011.