One of China's richest men has donated 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) to the tsunami relief effort, the China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday.

William Ding, CEO of Chinese Internet media company NetEase.Com Inc., announced on Monday he had donated the money to China's Red Cross Society, the newspaper said.

"This natural disaster affects all people. I have been shocked by the terrible effects of this disaster, and though I was not actually involved, I personally feel the suffering of people in stricken regions," Ding was quoted as saying.

China Development Bank made a donation of US$1.8 million, the largest single grant from a state-owned organization, Xinhua news agency said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, responding to an appeal by the United Nations, has offered an additional US$20 million in aid on top of US$63 million already pledged.

(Xinhua and China Daily January 11, 2005)