Indonesia deliver Appreciation Certificates to China for tsunami and earthquake disaster relief

JAKARTA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Thursday delivered Appreciation Certificates to China for its tsunami and earthquake disaster relief for Indonesia.

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Indonesia's Director of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias, handed over the certificates separately to Lan Lijun, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia, Fang Qiuchen, counselor of economy at the Chinese Embassy, and Zhang Lei, director general of Jakarta Branch, Bank of China.

"I am honored to express appreciation on behalf of the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the government and people to the Chinese government and people for your self-giving donations and helps from the beginning of reconstruction of Aceh and Nias. Many thanks," Kuntoro said at the delivery ceremony.

He highlighted the reconstruction projects like Nias Gunungsitoli Hospital, China-Indonesia Friendship Village, pre-fabric houses, and materials and goods which was donated by the government and non-governmental organizations of China.

Lan said the appreciation certificates signed by president Susilo demonstrate friendly sentiments of sharing weal and woe between the two peoples, and the sense of social responsibility of Chinese companies as well.

According to Lan, the Chinese government and people carried out the largest overseas disaster relief action ever when the disaster struck Indonesia. The total volume of donation exceeds 500 million RMB yuan (over 60 million U.S. dollars).

The Indian Ocean tsunami in the December 2004 was one of the most deadly natural disasters over the centuries. More than 230,000 people in the coastal countries were killed. Among them some 170,000 were from Indonesia.