A plane carrying a first batch of humanitarian aid from China to the United States for victims of Hurricane Katrina left Beijing on Wednesday afternoon.

According to information from the Ministry of Commerce, the relief goods include power generators, tents, bed sheets and children's clothing, which are due to arrive in Houston, Texas, at 2:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Wang Hanjiang, head of the ministry's Department for Foreign Aid, said that China would send more aid "if it is needed."

China announced last Saturday that it had decided to offer disaster relief assistance including emergency supplies worth US$5 million, and that if necessary the government would send rescue teams to help with medical treatment and epidemic prevention in the disaster-stricken areas.

Hurricane Katrina hit the southern part of the US on August 29, causing widespread devastation. Chinese President Hu Jintao on August 31 sent a telegram to US President George W. Bush, expressing sympathy and condolences to Bush, the US government and citizens, on behalf of the Chinese government and people.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2005)