The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) chief Wednesday paid tribute to the Chinese people and government's rescue efforts after a strong quake rocked China's Qinghai province.

"I know it's very difficult, and there have been great efforts by the Chinese government to aid the victims, and my sympathy is with the Chinese people," UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova told Xinhua during a telephone interview.

After learning about the devastating disaster, the UNESCO chief expressed her sympathy to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in a letter last week.

"We have so far expressed our willingness to do something to protect the material and immaterial heritage damaged in the quake," she told Xinhua, reiterating her support for the Chinese people and government.

As China conducted nationwide mourning Wednesday, the UNESCO chief recognized the importance of unity when human beings are facing natural disasters.

"We have seen different tragedies, for example the earthquake. We are fragile facing the force of nature, that's why we should be much more solidary," she said.

To date, the death toll of the 7.1-magnitude Yushu quake has climbed to 2,064. Meanwhile, 175 people are still unaccounted for and 12,135 others were injured, including 1,434 severely hurt.