In 2005, the Chinese government engaged itself in major international emergency relief operations such as those for the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the hurricane disasters in the United States and the earthquake in Pakistan.

Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Jian made the remark here Wednesday at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

Throughout the past year, observing the humanitarian spirit of "putting people first" and answering requests of disaster-stricken countries and appeals of the international community, the Chinese government provided emergency relief materials and sent rescue and medical teams in a prompt manner, and provided assistance in cash within its capacity, he said.

The Chinese government in 2005 provided emergency relief for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Vietnam on preventing and controlling bird flu, and provided emergency relief in cash or kind during the flood in Romania, the earthquake in Iran, and locust plague and cholera in Guinea-Bissau, the Dengue fever in Ecuador and the hurricane in Uruguay, he said.

It also offered emergency food aid to Niger, Burundi, Lesotho, Djibouti, Zambia and Mozambique, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)