On September 3, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of sympathy to his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush, expressing profound sympathy and solicitude to the president and via him to the U.S. people over the casualties and property losses caused by Hurricane Gustav. In the message, the Chinese president expressed the belief that the U.S. people, under the leadership of President Bush and their government, are surely able to conquer the natural disaster and minimize the losses.