BEIJING, CHINA - CHINA on Thursday indicated it may contribute to a proposed new IMF fund to help poorer governments struggling against the global financial crisis.

'China is ready to work with other governments and major international organisations including the IMF to safeguard the stability of the financial markets and promote the growth of the global economy,' foreign ministry spokesman Jiang Yu told reporters.

'We are ready to continue to consider taking part in various assistance programmes within our capability.'

Jiang was responding to a question on whether China would contribute money to the new fund, which British Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposed on Tuesday 'to bolster the resources available to those countries in need of support'.

Ms Jiang said that as a member state of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China had always provided financial assistance to countries in need, and was willing to continue.

Mr Brown on Tuesday pressed countries with substantial foreign reserves, including China and oil-rich Gulf states, to contribute to the new fund.