Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on behalf of the Chinese Government, received a listing of 22,260 tents of quake relief aid from Pakistan on Friday.

Wang termed Pakistan's help as a true manifestation of a Chinese old saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed". Wang mentioned with appreciation the special gesture of Pakistani leadership to visit the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and the generous relief assistance provided by Pakistan.

"We not only received the heavy tents from Pakistan, but also felt the deep affection from the 160 million Pakistani people," Wang expressed his gratitude at the donation ceremony, and said "we can ensure that once Pakistan was in need of help, Chinese people would always be ready to stand by the Pakistani people."

Charge d'Affaires Abdul Sanik Khan of the Pakistan Embassy to China gave the list of relief materials to Wang Yi.

Abdul Sanik Khan stated that four C-130 planes carrying 500 blankets, 780 tents, 1,000 plastic mats, three metric tones of mineral water and four metric tones of machines have already arrived in Chengdu and Lanzhou in the last few days.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society has donated an amount of 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.

A Pakistani mobile field hospital with 27 doctors and paramedical staff is arriving Lanzhou in a day or two to participate in the relief efforts, according to a press release of Pakistani Embassy.

The Pakistan Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority(ERRA) will extend all possible assistance to the Chinese relief and reconstruction activity, according to the press release.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)