China has donated money to Venezuelan rain victims, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

The US$300,000 donation was made by the Latin American division of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela.

The statement said the money has been delivered by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Rongxiang, together with the president and vice president of the CNPC Latin America division.

Vice Foreign Minister Temir Porras received the funds at the Yellow House, headquarters of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.

Porras expressed his thanks on behalf of the Venezuelan people for this noble humanitarian act.

The donation will be used to help Venezuela relieve the thousands of families that have lost their homes due to the rains in previous weeks.

The Venezuelan government reported more than 133,000 people have lost everything in 11 states of the country due to the heavy rains, and about half a million people in all are affected.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2010)