The Czech Republic will sent medicines, mainly antibiotics and painkillers, worth one million crowns (US$60,000) to quake-hit China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said on Friday.

The medicines will get to China aboard a military plane taking a Czech parliamentary delegation to the country on Sunday, the Czech news agency CTK said.

Lower house deputy head Jan Kasal, who will lead the delegation, said the delegation will meet China's agriculture and environment ministers and hand the humanitarian aid to the country.

The Czech Republic had offered the immediate dispatch of a special team of rescuing dog handlers to China on Monday after the devastating earthquake that hit its southwestern provinces.

The Chinese authorities refused the offer with thankfulness and showed interest in financial aid to buy drugs and medical needs.

More than 50,000 people are feared dead in Sichuan Province alone after Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, the rescue headquarters of the State Council of China said Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2008)