China expressed its thanks to Saudi Arabia for its donation of US$50 million in cash and relief materials worth US$10 million to the quake-hit areas.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun made the remarks at a meeting with Saudi Arabian ambassador to China Yahya bin Abdul-Kareem Al-Zaid in Beijing on Friday afternoon.

Zhai said the precious support given by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz at this crucial moment embodied King Abdallah and Saudi Arabian people's friendly sentiment toward the Chinese people.

He said he believes that "the Chinese government and people will overcome all the difficulties caused by the quake and reconstruct our home with the help of the international community including Saudi Arabia."

Yahya said, the King, government and people of Saudi Arabia sympathize with the Chinese people affected by the disastrous quake.

"We believe that Chinese people will win the fight against the disaster under the leadership of the Chinese government," he said.

On Monday, an earthquake measuring 7.8 degrees on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, southwest China, and affected a large part of the country. Confirmed death toll has exceeded 22,000.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)