Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang yesterday briefed the latest development concerning foreign aid to China and foreigners in Sichuan:

China is ready to accept a Japanese rescue team into quake-hit areas

King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz has decided to offer $50 million in cash and materials worth of $10 million

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK would provide assistance of 1 million pounds ($1.9 million)

Germany announced the first step of aid of 500,000 euros ($775,000)

Poland said it would offer aid of $100,000

Norway announced 20 million krone ($4 million) emergency aid

The Spanish government will provide 1 million euros ($1.5 million) emergency relief aid

The Belgian government will offer China 650,000 euros ($980,000) assistance

The French Foreign Ministry announced relief materials worth 250,000 euros ($375,000)

Greece will provide 200,000 euros ($300,000)

Estonia will donate 500,000 Estonia krone ($49,000)

Vietnam will give $200,000 in cash

Mozambique offered 40,000 yuan ($5,800) aid

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees will give $50,000 aid in cash

A total of 93 foreign tourists were stranded in the disaster-hit region according to the figures from tourism department, among them 31 are British, 2 are Israelis and 12 are Americans

A German citizen who worked in Deyang city, which was reported with large number of death toll, died of disease when run for life

So far a total of 151 countries and 14 international and regional organizations have sent messages to China to express their deep condolence

There are already 35 foreign news agencies conduct reporting in the earthquake-stricken area and the Foreign Ministry will soon organize a group of foreign journalists to Sichuan

Xinhua - China Daily

(China Daily 05/16/2008 page12)