Rice arrives in quake-hit Sichuan Province

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-6-29  |     ONLINE EDITION

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province today to extend condolences for the victims in the quake-hit region. More in photo gallery

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today arrived in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan Province, to extend condolences for disaster victims in the quake-hit region.

She was the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the area ravaged by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12 that killed almost 70,000 people.

"Rice will express the condolences on behalf of the American people for the disaster," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey before Rice's departure.

During her 4-hour stay in this southwestern province, Rice will travel to Dujiangyan, one of the worst-hit cities in the massive quake. She will visit some temporary housing for survivors and a water purifier donated by Samaritan's Purse, an American non-governmental organization committed to international relief. She is also scheduled to give a press briefing at the end of her tour.

The US government has offered to China's quake area an amount of cash and material worth US$2.6 million, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Her Sichuan visit is part of her two-day China tour which will bring her to Beijing. She is scheduled to discuss with Chinese leaders a wide range of issues, including the Korean nuclear issues.