From left to right: H. E. Amb. Li Zhengjun, Foreign Minister Rt. Hon. Sir Rabbie Namaliu, and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Hon. Sir Peter Barter

The Red Cross Society of China has donated US$20,000 in cash to the National Disaster and Emergency Services of PNG for the purpose of disaster relief.

On behalf of the Chinese Red Cross, the Chinese Amb. Li Zhengjun handed over the check to Hon. Sir Peter Barter, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Chairman of the National Disaster and Emergency Services, on 25, March.

Rt. Hon. Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Sir Peter Barter, Minister for Intergovernmental Officials, Mr. Gabriel Pepson, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, representatives of National Disaster and Management Office, and many other people from media and relevant departments were present at the hang-over ceremony. Both Sir Rabbie and Sir Peter expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government. Sir Peter thanked the Chinese Red Cross Society, saying that this is the first substantial relief assistance that they got from a foreign organization and indicated that the sum of money will be exclusively used to buy tents and canvases and other relief materials for the people affected in the Ramu and the neighboring areas of the Madang province.

The hand-over ceremony was reported very positively by "The National" and "Post-Courier" newspapers, and EM TV.

Following is the speech by Amb. Li at the hand-over ceremony.