The Chinese Foreign Ministry here on Friday said it decided to donate 1 million U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid to the Philippines, which was recently hit hard by tropical storm Washi.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin made the remarks when asked to confirm media reports saying the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said China will donate 1 million U.S. dollars to the country.

Liu said that because the storm claimed about 1,000 lives and caused great property losses in the Philippines, China decided to offer the donation as humanitarian aid.

The Chinese people believe that the Filipinos can certainly overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes, he said.

Liu said China and southeast Asian countries have helped one another in the face of major natural disasters for years, noting that the Filipinos donated a total of 32 million yuan (about 5.07 million U.S. dollars) to Chinese people affected by the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that occurred on May 12, 2008.

Washi hit Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Dec. 16. Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino issued a proclamation on Wednesday declaring a state of national calamity in order to hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas damaged by the storm.