State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan
Thirty percent of the earthquake victims were said to be children, the bearers of Nepal's future. As a father of two children myself, I find this utterly heartbreaking. I sincerely hope that children will be able to attend school again and people return to their daily lives as soon as possible.
Four years ago, Japan also experienced an unprecedented major earthquake, and lost 20,000 precious lives. On that occasion Japan received 5,000 blankets from the people of Nepal, and Nepalese people living in Japan prepared and distributed curries in disaster-stricken areas. For that very reason, Japan has a special compassion and solidarity towards the people of Nepal.
Sushma Swaraj,
Minister for External Affairs, India
The relationship between India and Nepal is as old as history itself. We share ties of culture, religion, tradition, language, literature, and mythology. We are nurtured by the same mountains and rivers. Ours is a "Roti-Beti ka Sambandh" - a bond of family and kinship.
And we are both susceptible to natural disasters. The 1934 earthquake had devastated wide swathes of Nepal and Bihar. The recent Sikkim earthquake of 2011 had caused damage across communities in both Nepal and Sikkim. Flash floods in our common rivers wreak havoc in communities of both countries. Clearly, Nepal and India are joined in both their joys and sorrows.
Wang Yi,
Foreign Minister, China
As I recall, during President Xi Jinping's meeting with President Ram Baran Yadav during the Bo'ao Forum in March, President Xi had said that the friendship between China and Nepal was as close as lips and teeth. This earthquake did show how close people of two countries are and how our destinies are bound together. The earthquake brought damages, but it also brought our hearts together.'
Borge Brende,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Norway
We must do more and better. The Nepali authorities, the people, and particularly young people, have been pulling together, including huge voluntary efforts to deal with this crisis. As you strive to recover and rebuild your country, we promise to stand by you. We will work with you - not only to build back, but to build back better.
US Ambassador Peter W Bodde conveying US Secretary of State John Kerry's message
I will never forget the searing images of pain and devastation in the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake and the May 12 aftershock. I know that even today millions of Nepalis are unable to return to their homes and are struggling to plant their crops and send their kids to school.
I will also never forget the courage and heroism the Nepali people showed from the moment the earthquake struck as they risked their lives to rescue neighbors from the rubble. Using social media, young Nepalis organized as never before to deliver aid to remote communities
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