BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday sent a message of sympathy to Myanmar's top leader Senior-General Than Shwe in the wake of a cyclone that killed tens of thousands of people in the southeast Asian country.

    As a friendly neighbor, China will provide help and aid to Myanmar's reconstruction efforts, Hu told Than Shwe, chairman of Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

    Hu expressed the belief that Myanmar would soon overcome the difficulties caused by the cyclone and restore normal life for its people under the leadership of the SPDC.

    According to latest reports, more than 15,000 people have been killed by cyclone Nargis, which swept across five divisions and states of Myanmar last weekend.