On February 5, 2008, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met Syrian Ambassador to China Mohamed Kheir Al-wadi by appointment. Al-wadi passed on a message of condolence sent by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to President Hu Jintao for the unusual cold, heavy snow, sleet and ice rain that hit southern region of China as well as a USD 100,000 emergency assistance check donated by the Syrian government to the Chinese government. Al-wadi expressed that the Syrian leaders and people cherished friendly sentiments towards China and deep sympathy towards the Chinese people. He believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, the Chinese people could surely overcome any difficulty in the fight against the disaster. Zhai thanked President Bashar al-Assad for sending the message of condolence to President Hu Jintao and thanked the Syrian government and people for their support and donation. He said that the Chinese foreign ministry would deliver the donation to the related agencies in a timely manner for disaster relief and reconstruction in disaster-stricken regions.