Ambassador Fu Ying  delivered a speech in Canberra University

Mr. Roger briefed the audience on the situation in Hambantota area in southern Sri Lanka.  The Tsunami has resulted in the students' loss of their schools.  The staff and the students at the Canberra University have extended their hands of help and everyone is contributing to the efforts of enabling the children in the disaster area to return to their campus at an earlier date.  The Secretarial Office of the University also showed the pictures and made presentation in relation to the devastation of calamity and the reconstruction of Hambantota area.

In her address, Ambassador Fu said the Tsunami caused by the severe earthquake in the Indian Ocean is a catastrophe of the entire mankind.  China is a nation that has been constantly subjected to every kind of natural calamities.  Five thousand years ago, China already boasted the historic achievement by Da Yu, a folk hero who had successfully prevented flood by water control.  Therefore, Chinese people have a deep understanding of and are very empathetic in the suffering brought about by natural disasters as well as the difficulties in post-disaster reconstruction.  After the Tsunami, the people and the government of China have initiated the biggest rescue and relief efforts in China's history.  The total donation amounts to RMB1.2 billion (approximately 200 million Australian dollars).  In the mean time, medical teams and rescue teams have been sent along with a great quantity of tents, carpets, generator as well as all kinds of food and medications.  The Chinese Embassy in Australia has also made donations to both Indonesia and Sri Lanka through both nations' embassies in Australia in support of the provision of disaster relief.

When it learned about the "Build a Classroom" initiative of Canberra University aimed to facilitate the reconstruction of the schools in Hambantota, Sri Lanka that were seriously destroyed by the Tsunami, the Chinese Embassy expressed their appreciation and support.  On 9 February this year, Chinese Embassy has held a "Spring Festival Open Day" on which occasion three thousand dollars was gathered through charity bazaar and the donations form the Chinese overseas students in Australia.  Now this money was being fully donated to this project. Madam Fu indicated that along with our Australian friends, Chinese Embassy are more than willing to contribute their own share in the endeavours to help rebuild disaster areas.  She hoped that with the help of the international communities, the children in the Hambantota area would be able to return to a bright classroom and the people in the afflicted areas would be able to rehabilitate their homeland at an early date.

On behalf of the Canberra University and Australian Planning Organization, Vice-chancellor Mr. Roger Thornton Dean extended their thanks for the philanthropic act of the Chinese Embassy.