Premier Wen Jiabao announced Friday that China will offer an
additional 500 million yuan (US$60.46 million) of humanitarian aid
to the earthquake and tsunami-hit countries.
Wen made the announcement while meeting with diplomatic envoys
of the Indian Ocean tsunami-hit countries in China and
representatives of some international organizations in Beijing.
He said the Chinese government will closely follow the situation
and further help will be available when it is needed.
"On behalf of the Chinese government, Chinese people and
President Hu Jintao and also in the name of my own, I'd like to,
once again, convey my sincere sympathy to the disaster-hit
countries and peoples, and my deep condolences to the victims," Wen
said.
He described the current disaster in many southeast and south
Asian and African countries as a catastrophe to the people on this
planet, adding that China is a developing country which is
frequently struck by natural disasters. "When we were in
difficulties, we received help and assistance from many friendly
countries."
"We feel the same sadness as yours... everyone in China is
deeply concerned with the pain you've suffered and difficulties you
are facing," Wen told the diplomats.
The earthquake, measuring at 8.7 on the Richter Scale, hit west
of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia Sunday. It triggered tsunamis
in some southeast and south Asian countries, killing at least
120,000 people in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Maldives, Thailand and Malaysia.
Shortly after the catastrophe, the Chinese government offered
21.63 million yuan (US$2.62 million) in aid for the tsunami-hit
countries. Several Chinese relief and medical teams have left for
Thailand and Indonesia to search for victims and treat the
injured.
Wen said China has initiated an emergency response system and
set up a special working team involving the Foreign Ministry,
Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health
for assistance to the tsunami-hit regions.
China is convinced that under the leadership of the relevant
governments and with the assistance from the international
community, the tsunami-ravaged countries would recover from the
disaster and rebuild their homes, Wen said.
Aa Kustia, Indonesian ambassador to China, said the Indonesian
people have been encouraged by China's help in food, medicines and
clothes. He was also grateful for China sending medical teams to
Indonesia.
Nihal Rodrigo, Sri Lankan ambassador to China, said he has been
deeply touched by three Chinese students who had come to the
embassy to donate 200 yuan (US$24.2).
Henk Bekedam, representative of the World Health Organization in
China, said the Chinese government takes a quick reaction and offer
help promptly, demonstrating the friendship between China and the
tsunami-hit countries.
The diplomatic envoys of Indonesia, Somalia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Tanzania and Kenya as well
as representatives from the WHO, United Nations Development
Program, General Headquarters of International Network for Bamboo
and Rattan, the World Bank and the United Nations Children's Fund
attended the meeting.
Staff members of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
(ACFTU) Friday donated 3 million yuan (US$361,000) for trade union
organizations in the tsunami-ravaged countries.
The federation also sent letters to the Director-General of the
International Labor Organization (ILO) and the chairman of the
workers organization council, appealing for concerned people to
unite and take an active part in the disaster-relief
initiative.
All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) Friday urged its staff to
donate more money for the tsunami victims after sending dispatches
of aid to the disaster-hit areas.
The federation called its counterparts in Indonesia, India, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Maldives and expressed its sympathy
and cordial regards to the victims' families soon after the tsunami
struck, an ACWF official said.
Zhang Jing, director of the International Liaison Office of
ACWF, said the federation sent the first patch of drinking water,
food, clothes, and medicine to the tsunami-hit areas on Monday, the
day after the disaster occurred.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2004)