Chinese people and social organisations have donated about $ 12.69 million till Friday for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster, the ministry of civil affairs has said.

The donations were done through the Red Cross Society of China, China Charity Federation and their local branches, it said.

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The ministry will publicise the amount of donations regularly, Director of the Ministry's Disaster Relief Department Pan Chenmin said.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest commercial bank, is offering free online services to those wanting to donate money to the tsunami-hit countries.

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The staff of the Chinese foreign ministry, including those working in embassies and consulates in other countries, had donated a total of $ 640,000 by Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.