Kyaw San, mayor of quake-hit Mandalay in Myanmar, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to China for its timely rescue efforts and generous aid following a deadly earthquake that rocked the Southeast Asian country on Friday.
The death toll from the 7.9-magnitude quake which struck central Myanmar last Friday has now climbed above 3,000, with over 4,500 people injured and some 350 others still remaining missing, according to the latest report.
The first batch of aid from the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Mandalay, the epicenter of the strong earthquake, on Wednesday. The supplies, including tents, blankets, folding beds, and over 4,900 relief family kits sufficient for 2,000 affected households, will be distributed to those in need by the Myanmar Red Cross Society.
In an exclusive interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Mayor Kyaw San expressed his heartfelt gratitude to China, the Chinese president, and the Red Cross Society of China, highlighting the aid for its practicality and addressing people's real needs.
"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to China for the help provided to Mandalay, Myanmar, and our government during this difficult time. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The items donated by China are not only practical, but also truly essential. On behalf of the government of Myanmar and the government of Mandalay, we express our heartfelt thanks to China, the Chinese president, and the Red Cross Society of China," he said.
Mayor of Myanmar's Mandalay thanks China for timely rescue, generous aid following deadly earthquake
Mayor of Myanmar's Mandalay thanks China for timely rescue, generous aid following deadly earthquake
Mayor of Myanmar's Mandalay thanks China for timely rescue, generous aid following deadly earthquake
Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), held talks with speaker of the Finnish parliament Jussi Halla-aho in Beijing on Monday, to discuss relations between their two countries.
Noting this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Finland, Zhao said China stands ready to work together with Finland to deliver on the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two countries, and promote continuous development of the China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership.
China is further deepening reform comprehensively and expanding high-standard opening up, which will bring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, Zhao said, noting China is willing to make joint efforts with Finland to expand win-win cooperation and cement public support for bilateral relations.
China hopes that Finland will continue to play a positive role in boosting mutual promotion and common development of China-Finland relations and of relations between China and the European Union (EU), Zhao said.
Zhao said that the NPC is ready to carry forward the traditional friendship and implement close exchange and cooperation with the Finnish parliament.
As China and Finland each have their own characteristics in national governance and development concepts, the national legislatures of the two countries can learn from each other and play their legislative and supervisory roles to create a sound and stable legal environment for practical cooperation between the two countries, he said.
For his part, Halla-aho said that Finland stays committed to the one-China policy, noting the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
On the basis of mutual respect and trust, Finland is willing to promote practical bilateral cooperation, safeguard free trade and tackle common challenges, said Halla-aho, noting that the Finnish parliament hopes for enhanced exchange with China's NPC, so as to play a positive role in deepening the relations between Finland and China.
China's top legislator holds talks with Finland's parliament speaker on relations
