China's relief aid to Pakistan has amounted to US$20.5 million
since the October 8 earthquake struck the south Asian country,
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Chunxiang said in Islamabad on
Saturday.
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Zhang made the remarks at a signing ceremony with Ejaz Rahim,
Pakistan's cabinet secretary, to hand over a new batch of 150,000
blankets and 3,380 tents worth 50 million yuan (US$6.2 million), as
part of China's new pledge of further relief aid.
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Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao on October 27 promised that China would provide Pakistan
with further relief aid worth US$13.8 million after a meeting with
his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz in Moscow, according to
Zhang.
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The ambassador said China had donated US$500,000 to Pakistan at the
United Nations donors conference in Geneva.
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The above-mentioned amount plus the US$6.2 million aid which China
had donated in the first week after the devastating earthquake, has
made China's relief aid to Pakistan a total of US$20.5 million up
to now, Zhang said, adding that the total excludes the aid provided
by the Chinese military and the red cross society.
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Upon the request of the Pakistani side, Zhang said, China will
provide further relief assistance. Besides the blankets and tents
badly needed in the earthquake-affected areas, China has sent a
second dispatch of rescue workers, mainly surgeons and nurses to
set up field hospitals in those areas.
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The ambassador announced that a Chinese governmental delegation
will visit Pakistan from November 1 to 4 to hold talks with the
Pakistani side on reconstruction and rehabilitation following the
earthquake.
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"Because the governments and the peoples of China and Pakistan have
been enjoying a fraternal friendship?tested through
difficulties, the Chinese side made prompt decision to provide
relief aid at the earliest time immediately after the October 8
earthquake," said Zhang. "This shows the deep feelings and emotions
of the Chinese for the Pakistanis."
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On behalf of the Pakistani government and people, Ejaz Rahim
extended gratitude to the Chinese government and people for the
humanitarian assistance and the gesture of goodwill to Pakistan
since the earthquake.
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"We cannot forget that China is amongst the first countries to leap
to the assistance of the people of Pakistan and it has done it
every time when Pakistan is in need," said Rahim. "We cannot forget
the tremendous work the Chinese rescue team has done in Balakot,
the most affected area, in those very difficult conditions and we
cannot forget China's contribution to the Pakistani President
Relief Fund."
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He expressed belief that the second team of the Chinese rescue
workers would help those in need, especially women and children,
and respond to their medical, social and psychological needs.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2005)