Thailand renders financial support to quake victims in China

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) - The Thai government has presented a financial support, worth five million baht, to victims of a powerful earthquake in China's Sichuan province on April 20, 2013, which killed nearly 200 people and injured some 12,000 others. On behalf of the Thai government, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul handed out the five-million-baht assistance, as a humanitarian support, to the Sichuan quake victims, through Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Guan Mu. Expressing his condolence to China’s loss, Surapong acknowledged that Thailand and China have maintained their long standing and close friendship and strategic partnership and have always supported each other, saying he believes that China will quickly restore the quake-hit area. The Chinese top envoy, in his response, thanked the Thai government and people for the assistance, saying that China appreciates Thailand's hospitality, concerns and support offered to Chinese nationals every time they face any natural disaster. (TNA)