特别报道：>>>沪江汶川地震专题

BANGKOK, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decided to put off his visit to China following Monday's strong earthquake in southwestern China, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama announced Tuesday.

Ms. Tosayaporn Nitya, an official from the Prime Minister's Spokesman Bureau confirmed to Xinhua that the Thai premier Tuesday morning decided to cancel his first official visit to China as Thai PM, originally scheduled for May 15-17, as he does not want to bother the Chinese government, which will be busy with disaster relief after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province in southwestern China on Monday.

The powerful quake caused vibrations throughout many other provinces in China and even beyond its border, leaving at least 10,000 people dead by now.

The prime minister is expected to issue an announcement on that later.

The Thai government has not decided on a rescheduled date for the visit. "Maybe next month," said Tosayaporn.

The Thai premier prepared to send a letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to express condolences for China's loss.

Noppadon also said Thailand will give China 500,000 U.S. dollars to help meet the needs of its earthquake victims.