Macao's 21-member medical team Monday flew back to the city after finishing their relief operations in Chinese Mainland's quake-hit Sichuan Province, where the crew assisted medical work at a hospital.

The crew was the second medical team that was sent to the quake- hit province. They stayed for 13 days at a hospital in Nanchong, a Sichuan city severely damaged in the disaster.

"The second team joined the rescue operations in Nanchong, and cooperated well with the local hospital staff," said Chui Sai On, secretary for social affairs and culture of the SAR (Special Administrative Region) government, who greeted the health volunteers at the Macao International Airport.

The crew of 11 doctors and 10 nurses set out to Sichuan on board a chartered plane along with tons of relief supplies provided by the SAR on June 10. The city sent its first medical team to assist work at a Chengdu Hospital last month. They stayed there for 11 days.

Chui reiterated that Macao SAR will continue to provide assistance to the quake-stricken areas following the arrangement of the Sichuan authorities, and is eager to be part of the post-disaster reconstruction efforts in the province.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)