Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki on Thursday spoke highly of China's relief efforts in the devastating earthquake that hit its Sichuan Province early last week.

"I commend the Chinese leadership, the people in China and the authorities in Sichuan and areas hit by this earthquake," he told Xinhua.

"And I would like to commend everybody, including Chinese leaders, government officials and the people and the army involved in the relief operations."

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)