Vietnam donates $1.46m in tsunami aid

JAKARTA: Visiting President of Vietnam Tran Duc Luong handed over US$1.46 million in a cash donation to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) to help tsunami victims in Indonesia.

Luong said that the $1.4 million cash and goods worth $7,000 were given as a token of friendship between Vietnam and Indonesia.

He was speaking at a ceremony at Shangri La Hotel in Jakarta, which was attended by PMI chairman Mar'ie Muhamad, Indonesian Minister of Social Services Bachtiar Chamsyah, and senior officials from Vietnam.

Luong said that the humanitarian aid was donated by the Vietnamese, who felt sympathy for the Indonesian people affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami. The aid was collected by the Vietnamese Red Cross.

The Vietnamese president was in Jakarta to attend the Asian- African Summit. -- Antara