Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday expressed China's condolences to the tsunami-hit countries and said that China will increase its aid to the disaster-stricken countries.

Wen arrived in Jakarta Wednesday afternoon to attend a special summit of the ASEAN countries on tsunami which is due to be held Thursday.

Shortly after his arrival, Wen met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyo, Maldive President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai of Thailand and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Wen said that the international community and the countries hit by the tsunami disaster are now faced with a very serious challenge of disease-prevention and reconstruction and rehabilitation after the primary rescue operations have ended.

He said that China has decided to increase its aid to the tsunami-hit countries and the Chinese non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and ordinary Chinese people have been mobilized to collect aid donations to the victims of the disaster.

Wen said that China regards the pains and difficulties of its neighbors as its own and the country will definitely meet all the promises it has made while considering new aid programs in accordance to the new needs of the disaster-hit countries.

The foreign leaders expressed their appreciation for the help being provided by China.

During his meeting with President Susilo Yudhoyo, Wen said that Indonesia suffered the heaviest losses during the tsunami disaster and China is deeply worried by the situation in the country.

He said that China will continue to provide aid to Indonesia and will send more medical teams to the country to help prevent anout break of diseases and cure the wounded in the disaster.

Wen said that China is also ready to help Indonesia repair roads, bridges, power stations, schools and hospitals. He also said that China will help Indonesia build earthquake-detecting facilities and train personnel in the field.

President Susilo Yudhoyo said Indonesia welcomes Chinese companies to come to participate in the reconstruction of the country's disaster-hit areas. He also expressed his hope that China can help train earthquake and tsunami detecting personnel for the country.

Thursday's emergency summit will discuss co-ordinating global aid operations and establishing a catastrophe monitoring system.

The special one-day meeting was initiated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and will be attended by more than 20 heads of state and representatives of international organizations, including United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Indonesian police have raised the alert status to its maximum.

"I do not have a big entourage with me this time, but I'm flying (here) with 16 tons of relief materials, as well as the kind affections of the Chinese people," Wen said after his plane touched down at Halim airport in Jakarta.

The "urgently needed" materials include food, medicine and disaster relief equipment, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. He added the premier had asked delegation members to limit their luggage so the plane could carry more.

Wen said he will talk with others at the international conference about ways to reinforce disaster relief operations and help it all proceed efficiently and effectively. Wen said the Chinese Government will put forward its own proposals at today's summit. "We have made promises, and we mean what we say," he said.

Beijing meeting in January

Earlier, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia said China, ASEAN and tsunami-hit countries elsewhere will gather in Beijing late this month to consider setting up a pre-alarm mechanism to warn of future earthquakes and tsunamis.

The proposal was raised by China and has been initially agreed by the other parties, said Lu Shumin.

A special conference will be convened in Beijing in late January to seek consensus on the mechanism, as well as funding resources and equipment, said the ambassador.

Lu said on Tuesday the Chinese Government is glad to play a corresponding role in the reconstruction of disaster-struck Indonesian sites.

Having advantages in infrastructure construction, China is ready to provide assistance in the rebuilding large-scale projects, Lu said.

The Asian disaster has so far caused 152,000 deaths and massive destruction to countries on the Indian Ocean's rim from Indonesia to Somalia.

China has been delivering an additional 500 million yuan (US$60.46 million) in humanitarian aid, following an initial deliveries of goods worth US$21.62 million.

By People's Daily Online