Financial aid for earthquake victims

A cheque for €1,500 was presented to Chinese Ambassador China Chai Xi in aid of the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Schichuan last year.

The cheque was presented to the Ambassador by TV personality Xandru Grech, who handles the public relations for the company Ovations, during a New year dinner organised by the Malta China Friendship Society at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Balzan.

The presentation was made on behalf of Edric Bonello, managing director of Ovations, who had accepted to donate part of the proceeds from the performances given by the Shaolin Monks in Malta last summer to help the earthquake victims. The initiative, taken by the president of the Malta China Friendship Society, Reno Calleja, was fully supported by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and the Chinese Ambassador.

The earthquake last May left 90,000 people dead, including 20,000 children, and millions of people homeless. The Malta China Friendship Society had already demonstrated its commitment to help the victims when, a few weeks after the earthquake hit Schichuan, it collected money from people attending an open air concert held by the Chinese Embassy in Valletta.