A Japanese rescue team left Narita airport, east of Tokyo, late Thursday afternoon for southwestern China's quake-hit Sichuan province to assist local disaster relief efforts.

The team is to be the first group of foreign aid personnel to China following the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake which jolted a wide range of areas around China on Monday.

The Japanese government decided to dispatch the some-40-member team after receiving accept from the Chinese government earlier in the day.

The team, made up of firefighters, members of the police, Japan Coast Guard and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, took a flight of the Japan Airline, or JAL.

The Japanese government said on Tuesday that the country was ready to offer all forms of assistance, including rescue and medical assistance, to China over the earthquake pending China's request.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)