Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

    BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross organization of Taiwan has been invited and is now ready to rush for the rescue work in quake-hit Sichuan Province, the mainland-based Red Cross Society of China said Thursday.

    Since the quake struck on Monday, the Taiwan Red Cross had collected 300,000 U.S. dollars from public donations, which was delivered to the victims through the mainland's Red Cross Society on Wednesday.

    The Taiwan Red Cross also commissioned China Airlines to transport on Thursday relief materials worth 126,900 U.S. dollars from Taipei to Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan.

    The relief supplies include 7,000 heavy jackets, 800 tents, blankets, food and first-aid packages.

    Earlier on Thursday, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the mainland welcomes the earthquake rescue team sent by the Red Cross organization of Taiwan to help with the quake relief work.

    He said his office and the Red Cross Society of the mainland would assist the rescuers from Taiwan in reaching the quake zone at an earliest time possible.

    "We understand the concerns of the Taiwan compatriots toward the quake victims," Chen said and thanked them for their generosity and help in the rescue and relief work.

    Also on Thursday, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits sent a letter to Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, expressing gratitude for the Taiwan Red Cross sending rescuers to Sichuan and the donations of the Taiwan public.