Tanzanian Prime Minister Minzengo Pinda on Monday expressed sympathy with the Chinese government and people for the strong earthquake that hit northwestern China and hailed the relief work in the Qinghai province.

Pinda made the expression during an interview with Xinhua after a welcoming party was held here for a visiting Chinese delegation headed by Yan Junqi, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"We have sympathy for the Chinese people," Pinda told Xinhua, nothing that China responded very quickly with the relief and rescue efforts after the earthquake.

The 7.1-magnitude quake hit Yushu in southern Qinghai early Wednesday. It has left at least 1,484 dead,312 missing and 12,088 injured, as of 5 p.m. Saturday.

The 14-member delegation headed by Yan had visited Ethiopia before their arrival in Tanzania.