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Premier Wen to join tsunami summit
By Qin Jize, Joseph Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-01-03 08:33
Premier Wen Jiabao will fly to Indonesia for an emergency tsunami summit on
Thursday as the nation adds government aid and folk donations.
Yu Tao, a Chinese
rescuer, treats a 2-year-old Indonesian girl's foot and ankle injuries in
Banda Aceh, capital of Aceh Province Sunday.
[Xinhua] | 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 co-operation 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 stood last night at
130,000, including 2,500 foreigners. In addition 7,000 other foreigners were
missing.
Hu: Any aid in power
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 neighbouring 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.
China had yesterday 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.
Peking University
student An Yingzhi makes a donation to tsunami-hit nations at her campus
yesterday as did hundreds of other students and teachers. During the New
Year holiday, people across China have been digging deep to help their
fellow human beings in vital need of aid.
[newsphoto] |
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.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said the first batch of aid worth 21.63 million
yuan (US$2.6 million) had all been transported to the affected areas.
The Ministry of Commerce would be responsible for the manoeuvre of aid while
the Ministry of Civil Affairs would co-ordinate the collecting of donations from
non-governmental organizations and the public.
Li, Annan and Lee
Li 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.
Li told them of the aid pledged by the Chinese Government, saying China
"appreciates and supports" the leading and co-ordinating role of the UN in the
disaster.
He expressed China's desire to "strengthen the co-operation with UN and WHO
by helping rescue survivors, prevent disease and supply clean water and
reconstruct homes."
Annan and Lee praised China for its "positive role in helping the affected
countries," appreciating China's timely and substantial assistance for the
nations.
China's religious organizations are also working hard to help victims.
On New Year's Day, the Buddhist Association of China invited thousands of
monks from various parts of China, including Taiwan Province, to a service in
western Beijing to pray for an end to natural disasters.
In under an hour , the gathering donated 9.93 million yuan (US$1.2 million)
for the victims of the disaster. The money was handed to the Red Cross Society
of China for immediate use.
More special prayer services for victims by other religious organizations are
expected to be held in the coming few days.
The All-China Youth Federation, China Youth Development Foundation and
younger members of the public have raised 1 million yuan (US$120,919) for their
peers in affected countries.
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions expressed their sympathy and to the
workers of the disaster-hit countries through a donation of 3 million yuan
(US$362,757), and called on all the trade unions around the world to jointly
help to overcome the natural disaster and help rebuild lives.
Chinese people are mounting relief efforts in the aftermath of the tsunami
disaster in responding to the plea by the Red Cross Society of China and the
China Charity Federation is co-ordinating the public donation drive.
By yesterday, the headquarters of Red Cross Society of China alone has
received donations of more than 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million).
Its branch in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, saw a donation of
more than 3 million yuan (US$362,757) by yesterday.
The China Charity Federation has received a donation of more than 200,000
yuan (US$24,184) from the public so far.
On Thursday, the association will donate no less than HK$300,000 to the Red
Cross. They would raise more money if necessary, said its president Jose Yu.
Kevin Chiu, chief executive officer of World Vision Hong Kong, said the Hong
Kong branch has so far raised more than HK$50 million, of which HK$7 million
come from the SAR government.
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