On February 1, 2008, foreign leaders sent messages (letters) of condolence to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, expressing their deep sympathy and sincere condolence to the victims for their heavy casualties and loss of properties caused by heavy snow, sleet, ice rain and unusual cold in the southern region of China.

The leaders sending messages (letters) of condolence were: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar, Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Maldives' President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. They expressed their respect to the Chinese government and people for going all out and uniting together to deal with emergencies and disaster. They believed that the Chinese government would soon restore the normal production and social order of the disaster-stricken region. They also expressed their best wishes to the Chinese people for happiness and good future with the advent of the lunar New Year.