Bangkok  - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has cancelled a planned trip to Beijing this week in the wake of a massive earthquake in south-western China that has claimed an estimated 9,000 lives, the Thai foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday.

Samak, who became prime minister on January 28, was scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to Beijing on May 15 to 17, offered to postpone the trip in light of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan province on Monday.

"We asked the Chinese government if they thought it was a good idea to postpone the trip and they said yes, if possible," said Tharit Charungvat, the foreign ministry spokesman.

Thailand is one of China's closest allies in South-East Asia, so it is common for new prime ministers to visit Beijing shortly after assuming their posts.

Prime Minister Samak and Foreign Minister Noppodon Pattama have sent their condolences to their respective counterparts, and the Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved the granting of 500,000 dollars to assist victims of the earthquake as a "token to show our condolences," said Tharit.

Although there are over 100 Thai nationals living in Sichuan, there were no reported casualties among the Thai overseas community there. (dpa)