China sends 10 tons of drinking water to Japan

CHANGCHUN. March 17. KAZINFORM China delivered ten tons of bottled drinking water to Japan's earthquake-hit areas on Thursday in the country's latest round of relief donations sent to assist Japan's rescue and recovery efforts. Kazinform refers to China Daily.

The water, packaged in 800 boxes, was air-lifted from China's northeastern city of Changchun, Jilin Province, to Niigata in northeastern Japan on Thursday before it was taken by road to devastated Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, said Duan Yingli, a foreign affairs official with Jilin provincial government.

The drinking water was provided by the Jilin provincial government and the municipal government of Changchun as requested by the Japanese government, Duan said.

China sent a 15-member international rescue team to Japan, while the Ministry of Commerce said it is providing 30 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance.

The first relief package -- 2,000 blankets, 900 cotton tents and 200 emergency lights -- was delivered early this week.

On Wednesday, Beijing boosted aid to Japan by pledging 20,000 tonnes of fuel -- 10,000 tons of gasoline and 10,000 tons of diesel. Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version