Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the Indonesian and Sri Lanka embassies in Beijing on Jan.4 afternoon to offer deep condolences, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, to the nations' tsunami victims.

    Tang said as a good neighbor, China and its people are very much concerned about the catastrophe and are greatly sympathetic for the victims. China has quickly mobilized financial and material assistance for the tsunami-hit countries and will actively participate in the disease prevention and rebuilding work in those countries, he said.

    China is convinced that the Indonesian and Sri Lanka people, under the leadership of their respective governments and with the assistance from the international community, will surmount the disaster and rebuild their home, the state councilor said.

    Indonesian Ambassador Aa Kustia and Sri Lanka Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo expressed appreciation for and spoke highly of Chinese leaders, government and people. The ambassadors praised China for the quick, efficient and unselfish assistance offered when their people were in need.

    They said their governments and people would attach even greater importance to developing an all-round cooperative and brotherly relationship with China.

    The strong earthquake that occurred west of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, on Dec. 26 triggered tsunamis in some Southeast and South Asian countries, causing heavy casualties and enormous property losses. The death toll is now estimated at about150,000.

    Last Friday, Premier Wen Jiabao announced that China would provide an additional 500 million yuan (60.46 million US dollars) of humanitarian aid following 2.62 million US dollars worth of donations.

    Chinese people across the country have been donating to the tsunami victims over the last few days and the Chinese government has sent relief and medical teams to the disaster-hit countries.

    As part of Chinese people's massive relief efforts, more than 100 officers and soldiers from the Foreign Affairs Office of China's Defense Ministry lined up to donate money for the tsunami-hit countries Tuesday, their first working day in 2005.

    "A friend in need is a friend indeed. The tsuanmi-hit countries are China's friendly neighbors, we ought to give them a hand when they are in difficulty," said Zhang Bangdong, director of the Foreign Affairs Office.