>>>Click into Related Special: Asian Tsunami Disaster

Medical team members arrive at Beiijng Jan. 19, 2005. A 17-member Chinese medical team returned home Wednesday night after 16 days in tsunami-struck Sri Lanka.

Medical team members hug their relatives and friends after arriving at Beiijng Jan. 19, 2005.

Medical team members arrive at Beiijng Jan. 19.

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

Gao Qiang, China's executive vice health minister hugs a member of Chinese medical team in Beiijng Jan. 19.

The medical 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 to your efforts and hard work," Gao Qiang, China's executive vice health minister said, bowing deeply to the team members.

Since the catastrophic tsunami on December 26, 2004, China has sent several assistance and rescue teams to the disaster-affected countries, including Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

"The Chinese Health Ministry has sent three medical teams to tsunami-hit countries. We are ready to offer more help as long as we are needed," he said.

Zhu Tianxin, head of the team, said they stayed in Hikkaduwa, atsunami-hit town some 90 kilometers off the country's capital Colombo and treated 2,060 post-tsunami victims during their stay there. His team also helped local people prevent epidemics and improve the public health system.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sri Lankan Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, met with the team in Colombo on Tuesday and expressed his gratitude for China's medical relief efforts in time of unprecedented disaster.

Editor: Olivia