Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon separately in Yangon on Sunday on the sidelines of an international pledging conference co-organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.

Meeting with Thein Sein, Yang extended again China's mourning and consolation over Myanmar's cyclone tragic loss on behalf of the Chinese government, appreciating Myanmar people's strong determination in overcoming the difficulties.

He expressed China's support of the ASEAN in its leading role, hoping Myanmar could coordinate well with the regional grouping.

Yang said he believed that under the leadership of the Myanmar government and with the support of friendly neighbors as well as the international community, the Myanmar people is bound to overcome the hardship and rebuild their homeland.

At the meeting, Thein Sein expressed thanks for China's timely aid when Myanmar met with the tragedy by also sending a medical team to the country at a time when China itself was even hit by a severe earthquake. This acts reflected China's deep friendship with Myanmar, he said.

He also expressed thanks to China for its selfless assistance to his country.

In meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Chinese foreign minister Yang thanked Ban for UN's sympathy and support to China over the Sichuan earthquake, saying that China will maintain contact with the UN in post-disaster reconstruction.

Yang spoke highly of the United Nations and Ban for their endeavors dealing with Myanmar's cyclone relief efforts.

China supports ASEAN and UN in playing the leading role in international relief aid measures which benefit victims in their rehabilitation, he said.

On the occasion, Ban appraised China over its active participation in the international community's relief aid action on Myanmar, saying that China's extending of its helping hand to other country even when itself was meeting with massive disaster demonstrated the high spirit of China's humanitarianism.

Ban also spoke highly of Chinese government and people's strong spirit of solidarity and coordination in face of earthquake.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)