On September 3, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message to President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro, offering sympathy and solicitude to the Cuban leader and via him to the Cuban people over their suffering and heavy losses caused by Hurricane Gustav. In his message, Hu said he believes the Cuban people, under the leadership of the Cuban government and Communist Party, will recover soon from the natural disaster and rebuild their homelands.