China working closely with Pakistanis to rescue quake survivors: FM spokesman

BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's international searching rescue team is working closely with Pakistanis to rescue the survivors of the country's Saturday earthquake, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan here Thursday.

Kong told a regular news conference that the Chinese rescue team had found 3 survivors and treated 200 injured up to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

He said the third batch of relief materials from China, including 3,130 items of medicine and medical equipment, 50 tons in weight, was dispatched to the quake-hit areas at 6 p.m. Tuesday and arrived in Pakistan at 11 p.m.

The fourth batch of relief materials, including 620 tents, 2,000 blankets and 18,000 sheets, about 49 tons in weight, has been dispatched this morning, said Kong.

"In the following days other materials in bad need will also be dispatched to the disaster-stricken areas," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the Pakistani embassy in China to extend deep condolences, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, to the nation's earthquake victims.

Kong said Tang expressed his belief that the Pakistani people will be sure to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homeland under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani government.

A powerful earthquake, of a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, rocked Pakistan, India and Afghanistan last Saturday morning.

The quake, believed to be the worst since the founding of Pakistan, caused widespread destruction in the central and northern parts of the country. According to latest reports, the death toll has risen to more than 25,000, and is likely to rise further.

Source: Xinhua