Migrant workers from east China's Jiangxi Province are repaying a city that helped their native land when it was hit by an earthquake late last year with the most precious gift of all -- their own blood.

"After learning that Wenzhou blood bank was short of supply, we decided to arouse workers from my province to donate blood," said Chen Wenqi, chairman of an association of Jiangxians in Wenzhou, eastern Zhejiang Province.

More than 1,000 Jiangxi workers donated blood on Sunday, adding more than 100,000 ml to the blood bank, Chen said.

Wenzhou citizens donated over 500,000 yuan (about US$61,700) to victims in the Jiangxi earthquake late November, which killed 13 people, caused approximately three billion yuan (US$370.37 million) worth of economic losses and left about 100,000 people homeless.

"Wenzhou people offered generous help after the quake. We are eager to repay their attention and kindness by helping their blood bank," an entrepreneur surnamed Pan said. He donated 300 ml of blood, and more than 50 of his employees came with him to donate theirs.

Chen said that more than 500,000 people from Jiangxi Province are currently working in Wenzhou, a manufacturing powerhouse known as the birthplace of China's private business.

"Many donors are couples or sisters. They chose to thank this city by giving blood donations, which is kind of social development," said Cheng Jinguo, deputy director of the Wenzhou Municipal Bureau of Health.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006)