Video

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives at an international conference to discuss aid funding for cyclone hit Myanmar. He told the one-day meeting he hoped it would represent a change in Myanmar's future. SOUNDBITE: Un Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon saying; (English) "I hope this marks a turning point in tackling the challenges faced by this country." China said it was important that aid was kept separate from politics. SOUNDBITE: Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi saying; (English) "The pressing task now is to help Myanmar with relief and reconstruction. The international community should fully respect Myanmar's wish, and continue to offer assistance. In the light of the need, they should assist Myanmar in meeting the basic needs of the disaster victims." Myanmar was promised millions of dollars in cyclone aid at the conference, but some Western donor countries said the cash was contingent on the junta keeping its word on letting in foreign aid workers. Aid workers say that three weeks after Cyclone Nargis left 134,000 people dead or missing and up to 2.5 million destitute, parts of the stricken Irrawaddy Delta have still not been reached. Penny Tweedie, Reuters.