A China Southern cargo plane carrying the country's first batch of emergency supplies for US Hurricane Katrina victims left Beijing for Houston yesterday afternoon.

aeroplane in Beijing airport September 7, 2005. China has offered $5 million in aid for victims and Beijing said the government was prepared to send rescue workers including medical experts if needed. " hspace=0 src="/images/404/404.jpg" align=baseline border=1>

Relief materials for the victims of Hurricane Katrina from the Chinese government are put into an aeroplane in Beijing airport September 7, 2005. China has offered $5 million in aid for victims and Beijing said the government was prepared to send rescue workers including medical experts if needed. [newsphoto]

The freight was wrapped in plastic sheeting, and marked with the words "China donation" and Chinese national flags.

Sources at Beijing Customs said that the second batch of relief materials would be on its way in a few days.

Wang Hanjiang, head of the Department for Foreign Aid under the Ministry of Commerce, said China would send more supplies to the US hurricane-hit regions "if needed."

He said the move reflects Chinese people's sympathy and goodwill towards the American people.

Visiting Commander of US Pacific Command Admiral William Fallon said yesterday in Beijing that he was very appreciative of the generosity of the Chinese Government and people.

He said he was particularly touched by the assistance since China itself suffered substantial casualties and damages from Typhoon Talim only a few days ago.

An announcement by the US State Department ranked China as one of the top donor countries in terms of the value of aid.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced earlier that the Chinese Government would provide US$5 million in aid to the US and consider sending rescue workers to help in medical treatment and epidemicprevention if needed.

Assistance to the US is also coming from other countries.

Iran said yesterday it would supply the US with 20 million barrels of crude to help it overcome the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, if Washington is prepared to waive sanctions to receive the oil.

Iran's envoy to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Hossein Kazempour, said: "If US sanctions are lifted, Iran is prepared to send that quantity of oil to America." However, first indications are that there will be no change in the US policy towards Iran.

Last week, after Hurricane Katrina struck the southern United States, the Iranian Foreign Ministry offered to send relief supplies to the American Red Cross. Iranian newspapers report that no response has been received.

Meanwhile, an offer of aid to the victims of Katrina from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which included two mobile hospital units, 120 rescue and first aid experts and 50 tons of food, has been rejected by the United States, according to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

[1]