The White House announced on Tuesday that the United States will provide 500,000 U.S. dollars in initial aid to China over a devastating earthquake in southwest China.

Addressing a news briefing at the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino said the aid, offered in anticipation of an appeal from the International Red Cross, will be delivered through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster.

"It's an initial contribution," Perino said, "We'll consider what, if any, additional funding is needed to help the people of China."

The spokeswoman also confirmed that President George W. Bush held a telephone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday, during which they discussed the latest massive earthquake.

"He (President Bush) expressed his condolences on the earthquake, and reiterated his offer to assist in any way possible," she said.

A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan county, 159 km northwest of the Sichuan province's capital of Chengdu, at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT) Monday, killing thousands of people in eight affected provinces.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)