Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue announced Friday that the Chinese government decided to immediately offer urgent aid to six Asian countries suffering from avian influenza.

The six countries are Viet Nam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Pakistan, Zhang said.

She said the bird flu, which has hit some regions in Asia, including China, has caused damage to people's property and security.

The spokeswoman said China will continue to offer support to the countries concerned in the combat against the bird flu and strengthen regional and international cooperation.

China is also willing to join with the Asian countries concerned as well as international organizations to make due contributions in the fight against the epidemic, the spokeswoman said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2004)