A senior official with the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Thursday that the Chinese government and people have donated more than 1.2 billion yuan (about US$148.4 million) of money and materials to the India Ocean tsunami-hit countries.

Wang Zhenyao, director of the Disaster Relief Department under the ministry, said the Chinese government donated money and materials worth 687.3 million yuan (about US$85.0 million) to the India Ocean tsunami-hit countries, while the Chinese people donated 610 million yuan (about US$75.4 million) to the tsunami-affected areas through charity organizations.

The Chinese government also invited more than 30 officials from 11 countries of the tsunami-hit areas to attend a disaster-relief course in Beijing this May. The course was highly praised by the officials.

Wang said through India Ocean Tsunami, the Chinese government has learnt the importance of the emergency response system and is making efforts to enhance its disaster-relief capability.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005)