Q: The international community is offering relief aid to Pakistan, which is suffering its worst flood since independence in 1947. As Pakistan's closest friend and neighbor, what relief assistance has China offered?

A: As Pakistan's close neighbor and all-weather friend, China empathizes with Pakistan for its great loss of life and property inflicted by severe natural disaster. To help the Pakistani people to tide over difficulties, the Chinese Government has offered three installments of humanitarian relief supplies worth RMB 120 million in total. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has delivered urgently-needed materials including tents, power generators and sludge-cleaning equipment to the Pakistani armed forces. At Pakistan's request, the Chinese Government has decided to provide emergency supplies of daily necessities including rice, flour and sugar to residents in the flood-hit northern areas, where the first shipment is due to arrive through a land route. An international relief team of more than 60 members sent by the Chinese Government has arrived in the hardest-hit southern part of Pakistan on the evening of August 27. The relief team will set up a mobile hospital which is due to operate soon.

The Red Cross Society of China and local governments of Ningxia, Sichuan and others that have sister-province or sister-city ties with their Pakistani counterparts have provided cash or in-kind assistance. Some Chinese enterprises have offered tents, food, medicine, masks and other supplies to express sympathy and love towards the Pakistani people.

China and Pakistan are true friends that have always stood together and supported each other in times of need. Despite its own severe natural disasters, China has provided timely, efficient, sincere and generous assistance to Pakistan within its capacity and without any strings attached. China will continue to offer support and assistance to Pakistan based on its needs, including urgently-needed materials, and take an active part in post-disaster reconstruction with a view to helping the Pakistani Government and people to overcome difficulties and rebuild homes.