Beijing and its co-host cities for the Olympics have increased their blood stockpiles by one third to ensure emergency supplies during the Games, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

Mao Qun'an said designated hospitals had also stockpiled blood in case of transportation difficulties amid any emergency.

He said the stock of rare blood types such as RhD negative has been increased in Beijing and the co-host cities of Shanghai, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Qingdao.

"We also listed all known donors of RhD negative blood," he said.

The cities also made arrangements with neighboring provinces to ensure blood supply during the Olympics, according to Mao.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2008)