Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their prompt aid after a strong earthquake hit the southern Asian country on October 8.

In talks with a Chinese governmental delegation, Aziz said that the Chinese were among the most reliable and trust worthy friends of the Pakistanis. "Each flight of Chinese relief aid to Pakistan reinforces the Pakistanis' confidence to face the challenges," he added.

He also expressed hope that China would send a high-level delegation to attend the international conference on reconstruction and rehabilitation scheduled on November 19 in Islamabad.

Chen Jian, head of the delegation to assess the after-quake situations in Pakistan, said that the earthquake had resulted in massive losses of lives and property of the Pakistanis who the Chinese people deemed as brothers.

Chen told Aziz that feeling as they themselves had the sufferings, the Chinese government and people took prompt action and had since pledged relief aid of more than US$20 million, sent a search and rescue team and a medical team to the most affected areas.

The Chinese government and people are concerned about the living conditions of those in the affected areas, Chen said. To help the homeless Pakistanis to pass the coming winter, he disclosed, the Chinese government has collected more than 10,000 tents which are being transported to Pakistan by air and land.

He said that the Chinese government and people would do their best to help their Pakistani brothers in their utmost power.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)