China's humanitarian aid to countries stricken by the Indian Ocean tsunami is by far the largest one both in scope and in value in China's history of providing emergency relief for foreign countries.

Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Jian made the remark in Beijing Wednesday at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a tsunami took place in the Indian Ocean, and right on the next day, the Chinese government announced to provide 21.63 million yuan (US$2.7 million) worth of emergency humanitarian relief in kind and cash, he said.

Later it added in succession disaster assistance of 500 million yuan and multilateral donations of US$20 million, he said.

The first batch of relief materials were delivered to Indonesia, the most seriously affected country, via the special plane of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the first action of its kind, which fully embodies the sincere will of the Chinese government to actively engage in international disaster relief and the good-neighborly policy of "forging friendship and partnership with neighbors," he said.

In addition to relief materials and assistance in cash, the Chinese government sent several medical teams, international rescue teams, DNA testing groups and divers to those countries seriously affected by the disaster, he said.

The Chinese government announced providing the United States with US$5 million worth of assistance and a separate batch of emergency relief materials after the US southern part was hit by hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, 2005, he added.

The prompt organization and shipment of relief materials effectively helped those affected to get through the difficult time, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)