The first batch of relief materials offered by China to the cyclone-hit Myanmar arrived in its capital Rangoon Wednesday afternoon, sources with Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

The materials arrived at 15:30 Beijing time. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Guan Mu handed them over to Maung Maung Swe, Myanmar's Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, on behalf of the Chinese government.

Tropical cyclone Nargis, which developed over the Bay of Bengal, ripped through Myanmar's five divisions and states on May 2, leaving at least 22,500 people dead and more than 41,000 others missing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday China has decided to offer $1 million worth of aid, including relief materials worth $500,000, to help Myanmar with its disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)