Chinese approve of relief aid to Japan

BEIJING - Nearly 80 percent of Chinese respondents said they support the government's efforts to aid Japan despite frictions between the two Asian neighbors, a survey suggests.

The survey, conducted by the news portal ifeng.com, polled more than 1.5 million netizens on the devastating earthquake in Japan last Friday, which triggered a tsunami and crippled a nuclear plant.

The survey showed about 1.2 million respondents back the government's humanitarian aid to Japan, saying the two countries have a "shared culture" and China should offer help "despite historical and existing disputes".