BEIJING - China will provide humanitarian aid to New Zealand to help disaster relief in the earthquake-hit areas, China's Ministry of Commerce said Monday.

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The Chinese government will offer 500,000 US dollars in cash payment to help the disaster relief in New Zealand, the ministry said in a brief statement on its website. It did not provide further information.

On February 22, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, causing at least 148 deaths and widespread destruction.