China rushes for life across world's reef

China is mobilizing all kinds of resources from rescue teams to relief supplies to the earthquake-hit Tibet Autonomous Region and the neighboring Nepal on the other side of the world's highest mountain.

The 8.1-magnitude earthquake has killed more than 2,000 and injured another 5,460 in Nepal, while the death toll in Tibet has climbed to 18 with another 55 injured, according to the latest reports.

AIDS TO NEPAL

A 62-member Chinese search and rescue team, along with six dogs, arrived in Nepal's capital Kathmandu at about 10 a.m. local time to become the first international heavy urban search and rescue team in the Himalayan country, according to the China Earthquake Administration.

At about 5 p.m., the Chinese team spent four hours rescuing a teenager who had been trapped for one day in northwestern Kathmandu.

Hundreds of people surrounding the rescue site applauded when they saw the survivor was taken out of danger.

The teenage was in stable condition, said Fu Xiaoguang, deputy chief of the team.

Rescuers have also found another seven people trapped in the debris in the nearby area and the rescue was expected to last for another six hours, he said.

Most of the rescue team members are experienced in earthquake rescue who had participated in domestic or international missions in a dozen of serious earthquakes, including the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008 and those in Japan, Haiti and Pakistan.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," said Mahesh Kumar Maskey, Nepali Ambassador to China, who saw off the rescue team at the airport. "Nepali people will always remember the support and help from China."

The Chinese government has decided to provide 20 million yuan (3.3 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian aid to Nepal following the massive earthquake, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.

The aid, including supplies of tents, blankets and generators, will be delivered to Nepal by chartered planes, the ministry said, adding China will offer further support according to Nepal's demands.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has contacted a Chinese medical team stationed in Nepal and instructed them to "take an active part in medical relief work".