Premier Wen
Jiabao will fly to Indonesia for an emergency tsunami summit on
Thursday as the nation adds government aid and folk donations.
Wen will attend a summit organized by the 10-member Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). More than 20 heads of state or
government and representatives of international organizations will
also be in attendance to discuss the aid efforts to help Asia's
quake-tsunami-hit countries.
"Regional cooperation on disaster prevention will also top the
agenda," said a Foreign
Ministry spokesman.
At least nine Chinese nationals have been confirmed dead in the
disaster. The death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunami
has exceeded 140,000, including 2,500 foreigners. In addition 7,000
other foreigners were missing.
President Hu Jintao
said over the weekend that the Chinese Government is willing to
provide "any possible aid in its power to those in need." Hu
expressed his sincere sympathy to the countries that have lost so
much in the tsunami.
"China sincerely wishes its neighboring countries would conquer
the natural disaster and soon rebuild their homeland," Hu said at a
meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference on Saturday.
Till Sunday, China had raised an estimated US$65.3 million in
government, charitable and public donations. The number will rise
as more organizations report figures.
The government increased its aid by an additional 500 million
yuan (US$60.46 million) of humanitarian aid to the tsunami-hit
countries on Friday. Chinese residents have been queuing to donate
money to help survivors of the Christmas tsunami rebuild their
lives and stave off the threat of disease.
On Sunday, another 14 medical experts left Beijing for Sri Lanka
- the third medical team sent by China to the affected
countries.
"Relief goods and spot-exchange for other countries will arrive
at their destinations within a few days," said Wang Hanjiang, an
official with the Ministry
of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce would be responsible for
the maneuver of aid while the Ministry of Civil Affairs would
coordinate the collecting of donations from non-governmental
organizations and the public.
Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing discussed by telephone the best way the country can
offer its aid with Secretary General of United Nations (UN) Kofi
Annan and World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Lee
Jong-wook on Saturday night.
He expressed China's desire to "strengthen the cooperation with UN
and WHO by helping rescue survivors, prevent disease and supply
clean water and reconstruct homes."
(China Daily January 3, 2005)