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ASTANA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolences to his Myanmar counterpart U Htin Kyaw over a military plane crash off the country's southern coast.

In the message, Xi mourned the dead and extended sincere sympathy to the government and people of Myanmar, especially the families of the victims.

As a friendly neighbor, China shares the sorrow of the Myanmar government and people, and will offer strong support and assistance to Myanmar's follow-up work according to Myanmar's needs, Xi said.

A military plane, with 122 people on board, including 108 military personnel and their family members and 14 crew members, crashed off the country's southern coast.

The aircraft reportedly lost contact with the ground after taking off from Myeik Wednesday afternoon during its flight to Yangon.

A total of 31 bodies from the crashed plane have so far been recovered at sea off the southern coast of Myanmar.