China pledges support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu

China will do its best to help cyclone-hit Vanuatu rebuild, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

"We will try our best to support the government and the people of Vanuatu,"spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.

Hong said the government will provide 30 million yuan (4.87 million U.S. dollars) of relief supplies including food, water, tents and generators, to the South Pacific nation.

The supplies will be taken to Vanuatu by chartered plane, and China will offer further aid according to Vanuatu's needs, according to a statement issued by the Commerce Ministry.

Tropical cyclone Pam raged over Vanuatu last week, claiming at least 24 lives. The Vanuatu government has declared a state of emergency in parts of the country.