China's Red Cross society offered a total of 1.63 million US dollars through its Taiwan counterpart to aid earthquake victims in the island last year, according to the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC).

The RCSC made five remittances to the Taiwan Red Cross organization after strong quakes jolted the island on September 21, said Wang Lizhong, vice-president of the RCSC.

Several special teams composed of seismologists, rescue workers and doctors were organized, and disaster-relief materials including tents, medicine, clothing, quilts and food, valued at five million yuan (600,000 US dollars), were prepared by the society, Wang said.

He added that the efforts of the RCSC had been praised by the international Red Cross and rescue organizations.