China on Wednesday announced a pledge of an additional 10 million yuan (US$1.47 million) of aid gratis to Haiti to offer the quake- devastated country emergency supplies for reconstruction.

Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the announcement at the Haiti Donors Conference held at the UN Headquarters in New York.

China will be responsible for shipment of the supplies to Port- au-Prince, capital of Haiti, Li said. "The competent departments of the Chinese government will determine the details of the supplies with their Haitian counterparts and carry out the shipment as soon as possible," he added.

"Despite the geographical distance between China and Haiti, and despite the fact that the two countries have no diplomatic relations, the Chinese people feel strong about the sufferings of the Haitian people and the Chinese government has provided timely emergency assistance in various forms to Haiti," Li said.

Immediately after the Jan. 12 quake, the Chinese government sent a rescue team to Haiti for search and rescue efforts, and later on sent a medical care and epidemic prevention team to the country, he noted.

China has provided various forms of assistance to Haiti in the value of about 93 million yuan (about US$13.6 million) in cash and in kind through the UN flash appeals, the CERF, and bilateral channels, Li said.

"When a mega earthquake hit Wenchuan, China in May 2008,the international community immediately lent its support to China," he said. "This greatly encouraged the Chinese people, who under the strong leadership of the Chinese government, soon overcame the serious crisis brought about by the natural disaster."

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2010)