Chinese Ministry of Commerce arranged on Tuesday the delivery of its first batch of disaster relief supplies to Sichuan Province, which was hit by a major earthquake on Monday measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale.

A total of 10,000 flashlights, 40,000 batteries and 200,000 candles were sent by 11 a.m. from Shanghai, and the delivery of other materials followed in the afternoon.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)