China sends rescue team to earthquake-hit Iran ( 2003-12-27 14:12) (Xinhua)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced in Beijing Saturday
that the Chinese government has decided to dispatch an international rescue team
to Iran for emergent aid.
The team, which consists of 43 persons, will take a charter flight to
Iran Saturday afternoon.
Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a letter of condolences on Friday to his
Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Khatami, for the strong earthquake that has caused
heavy losses in Iran.
Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own
name, expressed sympathy and solicitude for Khatami, relatives of the victims
and the people of the disaster-stricken areas.
He also expressed the belief that the Iranian people will be able to overcome
the disaster and rebuild their homeland under the leadership of President
Khatami.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Friday evening expressed
China's deep concern over a strong earthquake that jolted Iran's Kerman province
Friday morning.
Liu said the calamity has caused heavy casualties and assets losses. The
Chinese government has decided to offer five million yuan (US$602,000 ) worth of
emergency aid to Iran, Liu said.
China's Red Cross has also provided USA$100,000 to Iran's Red Crescent to
help cope with the mishap, the spokesman said.
A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck central Iran's
Kerman province on Friday morning.
Although the regional interior ministry still could not confirm the actual
death toll, it was feared that several thousand people could have been killed in
the mishap.
