On May 25, 2008, an ASEAN-UN international pledging conference was held in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended and addressed the conference.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Yang first conveyed China's deepest sympathy to the people of Myanmar hard hit by a cyclone storm early this month. Feeling even more strongly the pain of the Myanmar people at a time when the whole Chinese nation are engaged in an all-out rescue and relief efforts on China's earthquake in Sichuan, the Chinese government has promptly provided emergency aid to Myanmar and sent a Chinese medical team to Myanmar cyclone-hit areas, Yang said.  "All this reflects the profound goodwill of the Chinese people to the people of Myanmar," he noted.

Yang said sharing weal and woe with its friend is the fine tradition of the Chinese nation. Myanmar is China's friendly neighbor and the two peoples enjoy the profound "blood brother" friendship and always show mutual support and assistance for each other. Pointing out that at a crucial stage in China's own earthquake relief effort, however to help the people of Myanmar through this difficult period, he said, the Chinese government has decided to provide another 10 million dollars in emergency aid to Myanmar for its relief and reconstruction work, believing that the aid, which embodies the profound friendship of the Chinese people for the people of Myanmar, will be of some help in the country's reconstruction endeavor.

Yang stressed the serious relief situation in Myanmar and the arduous task of post-disaster reconstruction. He emphasized that the international community should fully respect Myanmar's assistance commitment.   Yang expressed strong support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations in playing a constructive role in the relief and reconstruction efforts and support for the ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism.  China supports ASEAN's leading role in coordinating international assistance, he said. Yang called on the international community to provide all forms of assistance as reconstruction unfolds and in the light of the actual needs of the people of Myanmar, stressing that these humanitarian undertakings should not be politicized. He hoped that a stable and democratic Myanmar enjoying development serves the fundamental interest of the people of Myanmar and the common interest of all countries in the region.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Guan Mu and Assistant Minister of Commerce Chong Quan also attended the conference.

The international pledging conference, co-organized by the ASEAN and the UN, was held to seek further international financial aid commitment for Myanmar's cyclone aid relief and rehabilitation efforts. Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, George Yeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, which holds the ASEAN's rotating presidency, as well as representatives from 10 ASEAN countries, some European and American countries and international organizations attended the conference.     Besides China, other countries at the meeting also have pledged to provide extra assistance to Myanmar for its immediate relief and reconstruction.