ISLAMABAD, June 1: Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday visited a mobile surgical hospital set up by Pakistan’s medical mission in Longano, 500 kilometres from Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province.

The team is in China to help people affected by the May 12 earthquake.

According to a press release, the president praised the team’s efforts and professionalism of Pakistani medical personnel.

The head of the mission, Dr M. Habib, thanked the Chinese president and said it was their duty to help the Chinese people just like they had helped the Pakistani people after the earthquake in 2005.

The mission, comprising 14 doctors and 14 paramedics, left Pakistan on May 27 with eight tons of medicines and equipment. The team is likely to stay in China for four weeks.

Pakistan has so far sent to China more than 21,000 tents besides other relief goods.

The medical mission is fully functional and provided treatment to 145 people in the camp.

The Vice-Governor of the Gansu province, Madam Xian Hui, also visited Pakistan medical mission. She was briefed on the medical mission’s work.

The medical team arrived in Lanzhou about five days ago.

Soon after its arrival, the team was taken to the affected areas where it set up the camp.—APP