BEIJING - China will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Philippines, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

A new team from the Red Cross Society of China will take over from the team which has been working there for about ten days, Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing.

Medical teams, including a Chinese government emergency team, a rescue team from the Red Cross Society of China and China's Peace Ark Hospital Ship, have treated more than 5,000 patients in the central Philippines, according to Hong.

The government team is ready to return home, he said, noting that China's Peace Ark ?will continue its work.

With good medical skills and a life-saving spirit, the Chinese teams conveyed the friendly feelings of the Chinese government and people to the people of the Philippines and have won warm welcome and high appreciation, said the spokesman.