China donates 82,000 USD for renovation of quake-damaged pagodas in Myanmar

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Ruili Municipality of China's Yunnan province on Thursday donated 100 million kyats (about 82,000 U.S. dollars) to Myanmar for renovation of quick-damaged pagodas in the country's Bagan.

Myanmar's Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko thanked China for the donation, saying that as a traditionally good neighbor, China provided assistance to Myanmar when Myanmar is hit by natural disaster.

Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang said China would continue to provide assistance to Myanmar, adding that a Chinese experts team will be sent to Myanmar to help renovate the damaged pagodas in Bagan.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the central Myanmar on Aug. 24, damaging nearly 400 pagodas and temples in Bagan-Nyaung Oo region.

Bagan region was also hit by a strong earthquake in 1975damaging over 1,000 pagodas and temples out of 2,217, the minister said.