China provides emergency humanitarian assistance to quake-hit Myanmar

China has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts, said Li Ming, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), on March 29.

At the request of the Myanmar government, the Chinese government is also sending two rescue teams and supplies of tents, blankets, first-aid kits, food and drinking water -- items that are urgently needed in quake-affected areas, said Li.

The first rescue team arrived in Yangon on March 29 and was heading to the disaster-hit region to carry out on-site rescue. CIDCA Vice-Chairman Liu Junfeng went to the airport to see the team off.

Earlier, a medical rescue team from China's Yunnan province had arrived in Yangon.

The first batch of aid supplies from the Chinese government is scheduled to be shipped on March 31. And China will continue to provide assistance based on Myanmar's needs, Li said.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, causing severe casualties and property losses.