China said Tuesday it was sending USD 5.9 million in emergency aid to Turkey, including urban rescue teams, medical teams and relief materials, as well as disaster relief materials to Syria.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said "Chinese government immediately activated the emergency humanitarian assistance mechanism and decided to provide emergency assistance to Turkey and Syria. The first batch will provide 40 million yuan of emergency aid to Turkey, including sending heavy urban rescue teams and medical teams, and providing urgently needed disaster relief materials to Turkey. We will also coordinate the provision of urgently needed disaster relief materials to Syria, and speed up the implementation of ongoing food aid projects."

She continued saying, "China's rescue team is on the way to the disaster area of Turkey to carry out rescues. The Chinese government will continue to provide assistance to the two countries according to their needs."

She added that "President Xi Jinping sent messages of condolence to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad respectively. He extended deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured."