Chi, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, also conveyed solicitude from Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice-President Hu Jintao to Ruan Saturday.

He visited Zhao Yu as well, the other pilot who flew with Wang and witnessed the mid-air collision caused by a US spy plane April 1.

Wang's fighter jet was rammed by the US plane, and crashed. The search for Wang is now in its seventh day.

Ruan has fallen ill since the incident. Chi urged that the best doctors be dispatched to take care of her.

He praised Wang and Zhao for their courage in safeguarding the country's sovereignty and the nation's dignity, saying that their behavior reflected the aspiration of the whole nation and the armed forces.

The general pointed out that the US side should take full responsibility for the collision, and the Chinese armed forces and people will not accept it if the US government attempts to evade its responsibility.

Chi said that he has read the letter written by Ruan to US President George W. Bush and called it a "well-written one". He said that the whole armed forces and nation support Ruan, and they will turn their indignation into initiative to build a strong country with powerful armed forces.

Chi vowed again that the country will continue to search for the missing pilot at all costs.

"If Wang really sacrificed his life, he deserves the highest glory, and his deed was a heroic one," he said.

Ruan thanked Jiang and Chi, and said that her son still does not know that his father is missing. "We are all still anticipating a family reunion," she said.

(Xinhua 04/07/2001)