HONG KONG, CHINA - ASIAN nations on Tuesday joined the international community in offering aid and support for victims of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar, after a rare appeal for help from the reclusive nation's military junta.

The Southeast Asian country, whose rulers normally shun foreign aid, reached out to the world as the death toll climbed to more than 15,000 after tropical cyclone Nargis tore through the impoverished nation at the weekend.

'I believe that the government and people of Myanmar will soon overcome the difficulties caused by the cyclone and restore normal life and production,' Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a message to his Myanmar counterpart General Thein Sein.

China is one of Myanmar's closest political allies and has invested large sums of money to take advantage of its neighbour's energy and mineral assets, while helping to build the country's infrastructure.

Immediate neighbour Thailand airlifted more than 400,000 dollars' (S$543,121) worth of food, drinking water and medical supplies, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.

Economic giant Japan offered 28 million yen (S$366,606) in emergency aid including tents, electric power generators and other emergency goods 'considering the urgency of the situation there and humanitarian aspects to it,' the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Asean appealed for 'generous' international aid for member Myanmar, with Mr Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, saying the 10-member grouping has begun to mobilise help through coordination centres in its capitals.

'We are now appealing to all Asean governments, the private sector and the civil society... to please respond generously,' he told reporters in Singapore.

Mr Surin also called for help from Asean's dialogue partners, which include the United States, the European Union, China, Japan and South Korea, as well as from aid organisations and civil society groups worldwide.

Meanwhile Singapore, which has close ties to Myanmar, expressed solidarity and help.

'I am deeply saddened to learn about the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Nargis over the weekend,' Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said in a letter, dated on Monday, to his Myanmar counterpart Nyan Win.

'My heart goes out to the people of Myanmar who have been affected by the tragedy,' Mr Yeo said. 'If there is any way Singapore can help, please do not hesitate to let us know.'

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her country was willing to provide aid - but only through UN agencies.

'We really have minimal relations with the government in Myanmar but we can't stand by and see people affected by this tragedy left helpless. No humane country would,' she said.

Australia said it was 'ready, willing and able' to send aid, while South Korea announced it would provide Myanmar with emergency materials worth 100,000 (S$135,000) dollars.

Elsewhere around the world support and offers of assistance were tempered by criticism of Myanmar's rulers for failing to take steps to prevent the horrific death toll.

Washington released an initial sum of 250,000 dollars (S$339,430) towards the relief effort.

However US First Lady Laura Bush accused Myanmar's rulers of having failed to warn their citizens in time about the approach of the killer cyclone and said Washington was ready to increase its initial emergency outlay.

Mr Bush declined to give a precise dollar figure, saying the junta first had to allow a US disaster assistance response team into the country.

'I can't speak to how large that would be. But I feel assured that it would be substantial, if we can give it,' she said, promising help to provide water, sanitation, food and shelter.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said the organisation 'will do whatever (necessary) to provide urgent humanitarian assistance', and stressed that a disaster management team was ready to leave for Myanmar.

The European Union also released two million euros in initial emergency aid.