Students and officials from 17 Chinese universities and local education authorities have donated about 1.2 million yuan (about US$145,000) for victims in tsunami-hit countries, said the Ministry of Education Thursday.

Students from the universities in Beijing, Shanghai and several east China provinces have taken an active part in offering their help for people in the disaster-hit countries, the ministry said.

The donations are still going on campus.

Chinese citizens have expressed their sympathy and willingness to help victims in their neighboring countries since earthquakes and tsunamis devastated many of countries on the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26.

Three charity performances will be held in the Chinese capital in the upcoming week. One started on Thursday evening.

The artists will give free performances and make their own donation to charity organizations, said the performance organizer quoted by Thursday's Beijing News.

The money will be sent to the tsunami victims by the Chinese Red Cross Society, the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2005)