Beijing (PTI): US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday rapped Myanmar for refusing international help after being hit by a devastating cyclone, drawing contrast with its close ally China whom she praised for the recovery efforts following last month's devastating quake.

Rice, the first highest-ranking US official to visit the worst affected region in southwest China, flew into Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and spent about four hours inspecting the damage wreaked by the 8 magnitude quake of May 12.

"We are very glad that the Chinese people have reached out for help," Rice said, as she contrasted it with military-ruled Myanmar which faced strong international flak for not allowing foreign aid workers in the country when Cyclone Nargis struck the country, leaving 84,500 people dead.

She said, "It has been sad that instead of making possible the international communitys response to their people, they put up barriers to that response".

"Many lives could have been saved, perhaps many more can still be saved if we can get that response... this is not a matter of politics."

The military-junta spurned the help in the wake of the intense US-led pressure to release leader Aung San Sue Kyi and other political detainees and restore democracy.

"Earthquake can be very devastating and destructive as I come from a place always hit by earthquake," Rice said, as she learnt of the massive devastation and casualties in China.

The quake in China, the deadliest in three decades, has killed almost 70,000 people with the government saying the toll is likely to cross 80,000, and rendered millions homeless.