Japanese rescue team returns home after China quake aid mission

Source: Xinhua | 05-21-2008 09:56

CHENGDU, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese rescue team ended its search and rescue operations in southwest China's quake-hit areas and flew back home early Wednesday morning.

Japanese rescue team returns home

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang thanked Japan, saying that the hard work of the Japanese rescuers was extensively known by the Chinese people.

"We salute to their humanitarian spirits and friendship attached to the Chinese people", Qin told a regular press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

The head of the Japanese team, Takashi Koizumi, donated relief material and equipment to quake-ravaged Sichuan Province.

Japanese rescue team welcomed by overseas Chinese at airport.

The Japanese government sent a 60-member rescue team to China last week, the first batch of foreign aid personnel to enter China since the 8.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Sichuan.

The team, together with Chinese colleagues, had recovered 18 bodies.

Editor:Du Xiaodan