A 17-member medical team returned home on Wednesday night after 16 days in tsunami-struck areas of Sri Lanka.

The professionals, 14 from the Chinese mainland and three from Macao, were welcomed with hugs and bouquets from their families and government officials at Beijing's international airport.

"On behalf of Vice Premier Wu Yi, I'd like to extend the deepest appreciation of your efforts and hard work," Gao Qiang, China's executive vice health minister said, bowing deeply to the team members.

Since the tsunami on December 26, China has sent several assistance and rescue teams to affected countries, including Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Zhu Tianxin, head of the team, said they stayed in Hikkaduwa, a town 90 kilometers from the capital, Colombo, and treated 2,060 victims. His team also helped local people prevent epidemics and improve the public health system.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Sri Lankan healthcare and nutrition minister, met with them in Colombo on Tuesday and expressed his gratitude for China's medical relief efforts.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2005)