Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday briefed reporters on the latest aid provided by the international community and reiterated China's gratitude to international condolences and aid over the deadly earthquake in Sichuan Province.

"All the international condolences and aid have fully shown the friendly affection of these foreign governments and peoples toward the Chinese people and their noble humanitarian spirit," Qin said.

So far 166 countries and 30 international organizations have expressed condolences to China and international aid has been coming in, he said.

Flags of more than 100 foreign embassies and offices of international organizations in China flew at half-mast during China's three-day national mourning from Monday to Wednesday, and foreign diplomats and international representatives to China came in an endless stream to the Foreign Ministry to mourn, according to Qin.

He said the rescue teams sent by Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Singapore to the quake-hit southeastern part of China have worked against time, difficulties and danger in the quake relief, which showed their respect for lives and their high professional level and had deeply moved the Chinese people.

"We are sincerely grateful to the four countries' governments, peoples and rescuers," Qin said.

In response to a Japanese journalist's question, Qin specially thanked Japan which was the first country to send a rescue team to Sichuan, saying the hard work of the Japanese rescuers was extensively known by the Chinese people.

China has also agreed to accept medical teams from Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan to go to the quake-hit area and would consider accepting more foreign medical teams according to the medical aid progress in the quake-hit area, said Qin.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)