Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has sent a message of condolences to his Philippine counterpart, Perfecto Yasay, over a major earthquake that inflicted human loss and property damage in the Southeast Asian country.

In a message dated Monday, the Chinese foreign minister said China is willing to provide the Philippine side assistance if needed, and believed that under the leadership of the Philippine government, the Philippine people living in the quake-hit areas could overcome difficulties and return to normal life soon.

The magnitude-6.7 earthquake hit Surigao City in the southern Philippines Friday night, killing at least seven people and injuring 120 more.