Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced on Saturday Australia will contribute 1 million Australian dollars (0.94 million U.S. dollars) to support emergency relief efforts in China's earthquake-ravaged Sichuan Province.

Smith said in a statement the aid would be channeled through the Red Cross and be delivered by the Red Cross Society of China.

He said Australia's contribution would help provide much-needed emergency provisions such as tents, blankets, jerry cans and water purification tablets, as well as emergency Red Cross medical teams and essential medical supplies.

"All Australians have been deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life and suffering of so many people following the catastrophic earthquake in China's Sichuan Province on May 12," he said.

Smith said the Chinese authorities had acted quickly to respond to the disaster.

"I have spoken to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to offer my sympathies and to pass on Australia's best wishes to the Chinese authorities as they carry out urgent search and rescue operations and coordinate emergency responses," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2008)