(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-07 09:26

WASHINGTON -- The American Red Cross Friday pledged an additional contribution of $10 million to support the China earthquake relief and recovery efforts.

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, chairman of the American Red Cross, made the announcement at a roundtable meeting focusing on the US response to China's earthquake.

"While we can never bring back the lives that were lost, we are committed to working together to ensure a full recovery for those affected by this disaster," she told Xinhua after the meeting.

The latest pledge will make the total contribution by the American Red Cross to China's earthquake relief efforts to $20 million.

McElveen-Hunter said by bringing together US nongovernmental organizations, businesses and charities at the meeting to hear what China needs, additional assistance will be provided as the long-term needs are identified.

US President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, China's ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong, as well as 30 leaders from the US business community and the nongovernmental sector attended the meeting.

"The American public and US companies are deeply concerned for those who have been affected by the earthquake in China," said John J. Castellani, president of Business Roundtable.

"Our members responded quickly to mobilize their resources to accelerate recovery efforts on the ground. We now look forward to working closely with the federal government and NGO community to help rebuild lives and communities, and encourage economic growth and stability in China and around the world," he said.

Within hours after the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan province, the Red Cross Society of China sent relief workers and supplies to the affected area, and more than 35,000 staff and volunteers are providing ongoing support to survivors.

The US government and the US military has so far provided cash and emergency provisions worth 2 million dollars to support China's earthquake relief efforts.

Preliminary figures put the total of US companies' assisstance to China at some 1.1 billion Renminbi.