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Beijing salutes foreign donors and rescuers for their help

Beijing has thanked foreign donors and rescue teams for their help as the country struggles with the aftermath of the earthquake.

'Not only is the support and assistance from the international community a form of material aid to China's relief work, it is also a form of spiritual encouragement,' Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday.

'Whether it is the government, an organisation, or an individual from the international community, their aid might come on different scales, but to the Chinese government and people in this time of crisis, their thoughts weigh the same. With the powerful support of the international community, China will definitely be able to overcome this natural disaster and rebuild our homes.'

The sympathy that has poured in from the international community and the Chinese government's humble responses contrast sharply to the antagonistic diplomatic rhetoric that prevailed after the Tibetan riots in March.

A total of 166 countries and 30-odd international organisations had sent their condolences, donations had been streaming in and more than 100 embassies and China-based organisations had lowered their flags to half mast, Mr Qin said.

Many have also offered their sympathies at Chinese embassies around the world.

'True affections are only seen in a real crisis,' he said. 'All these condolences and support demonstrate the friendship and honourable humanistic spirits of governments and people around the world.'

In particular, he praised the rescue teams sent from Japan, Russia, South Korea and Singapore for being unwavering and highly professional despite all the difficulties, and for showing huge respect for human life.

He said the Japanese rescue team was the first to arrive at the quake scene, recalling how its members dropped their heads and paid respect to the dead pulled from the debris.

'Their stories have not only deeply moved the people in the affected areas, but also Chinese people around the country,' Mr Qin said. 'We send our salute to them, and our sincere thanks.'

China has agreed to let in four more teams of foreign medical personnel as authorities make the difficult decision to shift from rescue to recovery work.

A Russian medical team with a mobile hospital arrived in Chengdu yesterday, the same day a 23-member medical team left Japan for the quake zone.

Two other teams would be flying in from Germany and Italy, Mr Qin said.

Many other countries and organisations have expressed a willingness to send medical teams, but China only said it would keep in touch with them and 'keenly consider' their participation.

'Given the situation and difficulties in the area, including transport and telecommunications, it is not possible for us to accept all of the medical teams to engage in rescue and relief work,' Mr Qin said.

The foreign ministry did not detail how it decided which teams were allowed in. A Taiwanese Red Cross medical team is also operating in the quake zone.

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