Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed condolences to China on Monday in the wake of the deadly earthquake that rocked its southwestern Yunnan province on Sunday and left at least 398 people dead.

In a message to China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, Abe expressed "heartfelt sympathy and condolences" to China and its people. He said he hopes that the areas struck by the 6.5 magnitude quake will recover as soon as possible.

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Japan is ready to provide support in any way it can to help China cope with the aftermath of the disaster, the Foreign Ministry said.

In response, China's Foreign Ministry accepted Abe's condolences and conveyed gratitude for its offer of help. The government will communicate with Japan if it sees a need for Tokyo's assistance, it added.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly expressed a similar sentiment to his Chinese counterpart, Minister Wang Yi.

Premier Li Keqiang visited the devastated area Monday and stressed that rescue efforts must be intensified as relatives continue to search for their missing loved ones. 

Meanwhile, other nations and organizations also offered condolences to China.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said he is saddened by the losses suffered by China, and offered his condolences to the government and to the families who lost relatives in the disaster.

He said the U.N. is ready to respond to China's humanitarian needs and to mobilize the international assistance needed.

The United States on Sunday offered its sincere condolences to China's bereaved, said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan on Sunday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their lives, those injured or displaced, and all the people of China on this difficult day," she said.

She added that U.S. disaster response representatives are communicating with China and "stands ready to assist."

Likewise, South Korean President Park Geun Hye expressed sadness over the significant losses of lives and properties caused by the quake and said she hoped Beijing would overcome the aftermath of the disaster soon.

Meanwhile, China has deployed some 2,500 soldiers to Yunnan province to assist efforts in locating survivors, a task made difficult by heavy rains in the earthquake's epicenter.

The soldiers are expected to join ranks with more than 300 firefighters and police from Zhaotong and about 400 emergency personnel and sniffing dogs from Yunnan in the search and rescue operation.

TagsChina earthquake, Yunnan earthquake, China disaster, Li Keqiang, Fumio Kishida, Ban Ki Moon, UN, humanitarian aid, Bernadette Meehan, US support, Park Geun Hye, China-Japan, China-US, China-South Korea