Generous aid packages, debt relief offers, and the promise of a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean. 

Thursday's Jakarta tsunami summit will be remembered with gratitude by the victims of one of the deadliest disasters humanity has ever encountered.

The monetary and material commitments made by the participating countries and organizations will prove crucial for the victims to overcome current difficulties and rebuild their homes. They will also provide some guarantee that a similar disaster will be known about in future before it strikes.

More impressive, however, was the prevailing sense of community the special summit demonstrated, this time in a truly global context.

The number of countries and institutions represented at the summit was in the dozens. But the scope of sympathy and aid reached far beyond.

The reports that Afghanistan had offered to help were received with particular gratitude. The country is suffering from considerable economic difficulties at present.

Its contributions might not be that much in amount. But the message is invaluable.

The very same message is loud and clear from China.

It was of great comfort to hear that Premier Wen Jiabao asked his entourage to make room for 16 tons of aid on his plane to Jakarta.

Such a delivery is small in quantity, but behind it is seen profound affection for those in need.

At home, while the government races against time to deliver its largest-ever foreign aid package, companies, individuals and non-governmental organizations are digging deep.

As is evident in what is described as a "bidding war" for promises of aid, there is a limit to what China can offer.

Premier Wen was right in reminding his audience in Jakarta that this country remains a developing one.

Overseas hullabaloo about China being a "developed" country, as well as blind optimism at home about our prosperity, all ignore a crucial, though embarrassing fact -- a cross section of our now 1.3 billion population shrinks all indices of our might and strength. In per capita terms, we are far from "developed."

Our promised aid program is not the biggest. But from the government to individual citizens, this country is doing its utmost.

And Premier Wen has pledged to provide further assistance according to the victim countries' practical needs.

The most imperative needs in the devastated areas are for clean water, food, and medical services. Afterwards, these areas will need disaster warning systems, information sharing and even personnel training.

Such practical needs are exactly what this country is meeting or will meet.

Premier Wen offered to help victim countries and the area set up tsunami warning systems, share with them information our weather satellites collect, and sponsor regional disaster-relief training programs.

Such offers are tailored well to the needs of the victim countries and will yield far-reaching benefits.

In such time of adversity, all talk of benevolence has to be practical and down to earth. It is obvious our government is aware of this.

Echoing widespread worries about international donors' failures to honor promised aid, Premier Wen appealed to donors to live up to their promises.

The continually accumulating amount of pledged donations for tsunami victims is approaching US$4 billion, it is reported. A lot can be done with that, provided all promises are ultimately honored.

Premier Wen told the summit the country had delivered the cash it promised and given recipient countries lists of supplies it would deliver.

That was important.

We should honor every promise we make.

(China Daily January 7, 2005)