WRAP Koizumi on tsunami relief; Chinese aid; Empire State Building dims lights

Описание: (4 Jan 2005)
APTN
Beijing, China - 4 January 2005
1. Various of volunteers sitting at table, talking on phone
2. Various of girl in wheelchair giving money to volunteer
3. Machine counting money
4. Girl receiving gratitude letter from Red Cross staff
5. Senior Vice President of Lenovo, Wang Xiaoyan, presenting a large cheque to head of Chinese Red Cross
6. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Guo Changjiang, vice chairman of Chinese Red Cross:
"China is a country with responsibility, and this responsibility lies with the government, as well as the Chinese people."
7. Officials at ceremony
Foreign Press Pool
Tokyo, Japan - 4 January 2005
8. Wide shot of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi walking in
9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister:
"The tsunami caused by the earthquake off Indonesia at the end of last year caused unprecedented damage to many countries. Japan received help and support from many countries when we were hit by quakes and typhoons. On this occasion, Japan, as a government and as a member of Asia, would like to give the maximum support for the related nations such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India."
10. Two of Koizumi''s cabinet ministers listening
11. Koizumi bowing and walking out
APTN
New York, USA - 3 January 2004
++Night shots++
12. Lights being dimmed on Empire State Building
STORYLINE:
There has been an unprecedented international response to the suffering and grief being experienced in countries around the Indian Ocean that were affected by the devastating earthquake-caused tsunami.
The disaster, which occurred on December 26, has left nearly 150,000 dead and many more homeless.
From farmers to millionaires, Chinese from all walks of life are digging deep into their pockets in one of the country''s largest fund-raising efforts in recent history.
Nine days after the disaster struck, 25 (m) million yuan (three million US dollars) in cash and pledges has been collected by the Chinese Red Cross.
People are making their donations by using collection boxes distributed in the capital, Beijing, and also by phoning a special hot-line which is open 24 hours a day.
China''s largest computer company, Lenovo, has donated 500-thousand US dollars.
John Sparrow, a spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Beijing, praised the Chinese people for being "very, very fast in coming up with their support."
The Chinese government has become the seventh largest donor after Japan, the United States, the World Bank, Britain, Sweden and Spain.
Last week, Beijing upped the amount it will be giving to 60 (m) million US dollars.
China has also sent medical teams and emergency supplies and food to hard-hit Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed on Tuesday to do his utmost to help relief and rebuilding efforts for victims of the earthquake-caused tsunami.
Over the weekend, Japan pledged up to 500 (m) million US dollars in grant aid for the tsunami disaster relief, making the country the largest single donor to victims of the catastrophe.
There were also Japanese victims, of whom 21 have been confirmed dead.
In the US on Monday evening, the lights on New York''s Empire State Building were dimmed for 15 minutes as a tribute to the victims of the tsunami disaster.
The dimming took place from 9pm to 9.15pm New York time (0200 - 0215gmt Tuesday).

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