The China Red Cross Society (CRCS) and its national branches had received 60 million yuan (7.22 million US dollars) in donations to fight severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by noon Wednesday.
CRCS vice-president Wang Lizhong announced the figure while receiving donations of money and medicine from Sanjiu Enterprise Group.
Sanjiu, a leading Chinese pharmaceutical producer, presented CRCS with one million yuan in funds and two million yuan worth of German-made medicine, which has been recommended by Chinese experts to improve immune functions.
Wang said the largest single donation was eight million yuan from China Merchants Bank, and many other enterprises and individuals had expressed their intention to make donations in the fight against SARS.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2003)
