China's relief aid to Pakistan has amounted to US$20.5 million since the October 8 earthquake struck the south Asian country, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Chunxiang said in Islamabad on Saturday.
   
Zhang made the remarks at a signing ceremony with Ejaz Rahim, Pakistan's cabinet secretary, to hand over a new batch of 150,000 blankets and 3,380 tents worth 50 million yuan (US$6.2 million), as part of China's new pledge of further relief aid.
   
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on October 27 promised that China would provide Pakistan with further relief aid worth US$13.8 million after a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz in Moscow, according to Zhang.
   
The ambassador said China had donated US$500,000 to Pakistan at the United Nations donors conference in Geneva.
   
The above-mentioned amount plus the US$6.2 million aid which China had donated in the first week after the devastating earthquake, has made China's relief aid to Pakistan a total of US$20.5 million up to now, Zhang said, adding that the total excludes the aid provided by the Chinese military and the red cross society.
   
Upon the request of the Pakistani side, Zhang said, China will provide further relief assistance. Besides the blankets and tents badly needed in the earthquake-affected areas, China has sent a second dispatch of rescue workers, mainly surgeons and nurses to set up field hospitals in those areas.
   
The ambassador announced that a Chinese governmental delegation will visit Pakistan from November 1 to 4 to hold talks with the Pakistani side on reconstruction and rehabilitation following the earthquake.
   
"Because the governments and the peoples of China and Pakistan have been enjoying a fraternal friendship tested through difficulties, the Chinese side made prompt decision to provide relief aid at the earliest time immediately after the October 8 earthquake," said Zhang. "This shows the deep feelings and emotions of the Chinese for the Pakistanis."
   
On behalf of the Pakistani government and people, Ejaz Rahim extended gratitude to the Chinese government and people for the humanitarian assistance and the gesture of goodwill to Pakistan since the earthquake.
   
"We cannot forget that China is amongst the first countries to leap to the assistance of the people of Pakistan and it has done it every time when Pakistan is in need," said Rahim. "We cannot forget the tremendous work the Chinese rescue team has done in Balakot, the most affected area, in those very difficult conditions and we cannot forget China's contribution to the Pakistani President Relief Fund."
  
He expressed belief that the second team of the Chinese rescue workers would help those in need, especially women and children, and respond to their medical, social and psychological needs.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2005)