China has sent the first professional inspection team to the countries that were hit by the fatal tidal wave to work in disaster assessment and reconstruction.

The team, mainly consisting of architects, will go to Sri Lanka and the Maldives to assess the infrastructure damage and detail the demands of rebuilding.

They will help the countries to resume electricity supply and communication, repair roads, bridges and docks as well as rebuild schools and hospitals.

China will soon dispatch another two such teams to Indonesia and Thailand.

(CRIENGLISH.com January 18, 2005)