Kan thanks world for showing 'bonds of friendship' after disasters

TOKYO (Kyodo) - Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed gratitude Monday in a written message published in newspapers worldwide for ''the bonds of friendship'' shown by more than 130 countries and regions after Japan was struck by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami one month ago.
The premier's message, which begins with ''Thank you for the Kizuna (bonds of friendship),'' was run by major newspapers in such countries as Britain, China, France, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam and the United States.
''Every blanket and every cup of hot soup brought warmth and strength to the cold and exhausted who had lost everything,'' Kan said in his message. ''We deeply appreciate the Kizuna our friends around the world have shown and I want to thank every nation, entity, and you personally, from the bottom of my heart.''
The premier also pledged that Japan will rebuild itself and try to contain the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant triggered by the twin disasters.
''Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid,'' Kan said. The message was concluded with a proverb, ''A friend in need is a friend indeed.''
The newspapers that carried his words of gratitude include China's People's Daily, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Le Figaro and Kommersant of Russia, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
The English message can also be viewed on the website of Kan's office.