Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolences on Saturday to his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over the heavy casualties and property losses caused by a strong earthquake earlier in the day.

In the message, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, offered deep sympathies and sincere condolences to the Indonesian president, the Indonesian government and people.

The Chinese president expressed the belief that under the leadership of Susilo, the Indonesian government and people will be able to overcome the difficulties caused by the earthquake and rebuild their beautiful homeland.

A powerful earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked Indonesia's province of Yogyakarta and several parts of Central Java at 5:53 a.m. local time on Saturday morning (2253 GMT, Friday).

The death toll from the earthquake has exceeded 2,700, said Indonesia's social affairs ministry.

Editor: Yan