The Chinese International Search and Rescue Team sent help victims of Indonesia's recent earthquake, returned to Beijing Friday afternoon by charter plane after completing its 18-day relief mission.

China sent to Indonesia on May 29 a team of medical workers, professional rescuers and seismologists, after a 6.4-magnitude quake struck the country's ancient royal city of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas on May 27.

The 44-member team arrived in Bantul, southern town in Yogyakarta, where two-thirds of the more than 6,200 casualties live. They brought with them five tons of medical supplies.

Over the last 17 days, the Chinese medical workers set up a mobile hospital to treat the injured and carry out epidemic prevention in the earthquake-devastated areas.

Over 3,000 Indonesian received medical assistance from the Chinese doctors and nurses. The Chinese medical workers also helped train local medical staff, said Zhao Heping, head of the Chinese relief team, who is also deputy director of the China Seismological Bureau.

In addition, the team made suggestions to the Indonesian government on how to rebuild after a careful evaluation of the disaster, said Zhao.

"It is so good to be back at home, but I will missing the days in Bantul" said Wang Qian, a 34-year-old doctor, who was on her third overseas rescue operation with the team.

"I feel so sorry for the quake victims, especially the old and the children. Although I worked at least 12 hours a day there, I'm happy I could help," said Wang.

Indonesian ambassador to China, Sudrajat, attended a welcoming ceremony at Beijing's Capital International Airport. He praised and thanked the Chinese rescuers for their efforts to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries.

"When Indonesians were suffering, we had sisters and brothers from China come to help us. You (the rescue team members) are not only heroes for the Chinese people, but also our heroes," said the ambassador.

The rescue team has also won high praise with its consummate medical skills and effectiveness in treating the quake survivors, said Chen Jianmin, general director of the China Seismological Bureau.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with representatives of the rescue team during their stay, said Chen.

The Chinese International Rescue Team was jointly set up by the China Seismological Bureau, an engineering unit of the People's Liberation Army and the General Hospital of the Armed Police in 2001. The latest operation is the fifth overseas mission for the team.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2006)