China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday that 20,000 tonnes of fuel was being shipped to Japan as a donation from the Chinese government.

The fuel, including 10,000 tonnes of gasoline and 10,000 tonnes of diesel, left Dalian Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province by ship at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the ministry said in a brief notice on its website.

The gasoline and diesel were loaded at the same time, and relevant authorities had given all possible assistance to facilitate the preparatory work, which has helped greatly shorten the time needed for loading and departure, said an official with the Dalian Petrochemical Company, the producer of the fuel.

Dalian Petrochemical is an affiliate of PetroChina Co. Ltd, the country's largest oil producer. The fuel is being shipped by the China Shipping Development Co., Ltd.

China is shipping the fuel to Japan, which was stricken by a devastating earthquake and a massive tsunami on March 11, in response to Japanese government requests.

The gasoline, requested to be shipped to Etajima of Hiroshima Prefecture, is set to arrive there on April 1. The diesel is expected to arrive at Namikata in Ehime Prefecture on April 2, according to the ministry.