Beijing - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday laid a
white chrysanthemum at a memorial to victims of last year's Sichuan
earthquake, leading the nation in mourning the 87,000 dead and
missing.
Hu and other senior leaders of China's ruling Communist Party
travelled to Sichuan for a memorial ceremony in Yingxiu town,
Wenchuan county, which was at the epicentre of the 7.9-magnitude
quake on May 12, 2008.
Hu gave condolences to families of people killed in the quake and
to those who died while taking part in rescue efforts inside
dangerous buildings and over treacherous mountain terrain.
In a speech broadcast live by the state-run China Central
Television on the first anniversary of the disaster, he expressed
'respect and gratitude' to all civilians and members of the armed
forces who took part in relief and reconstruction efforts.
Hu and hundreds of others at the ceremony stood in silent tribute
to the victims at 2:28 pm (0628 GMT), the time when the quake began.
Similar ceremonies were held at several other Sichuan towns
devastated by the quake.
Many cities in other parts of China held events on Tuesday for the
anniversary, which will be marked annually as Disaster Prevention and
Reduction Day.
Provincial capitals including Harbin, Wuhan, Taiyuan and Guiyang
drilled students in evacuation procedures, fire extinguishing and
first aid, state media said.
Hu said reconstruction in Sichuan was based on the principles of
'putting people first and respecting nature.'
'The post-quake reconstruction has registered important progress,
and the quake survivors are marching toward a new life,' he said.
Hu also thanked the global community for supporting relief and
reconstruction efforts after the quake.
'The assistance from the international community strongly
supported China's disaster relief and reconstruction efforts,
showcased grand humanitarianism and sincere friendship with the
Chinese people,' state media quoted Hu as saying in an earlier speech
to 30 diplomats who were invited to Sichuan Monday.
China said it had received relief cash and goods valued at 76.7
billion yuan (11.2 billion dollars) from local and international
donors after the quake.
In his speech Monday, Hu noted that nations including Russia and
Japan also sent rescue workers and doctors to quake-hit areas.
In the weeks after the quake, governments, groups and individuals
from about 160 nations and international organizations sent funds and
relief materials, he said.
China used the international aid for projects such as rebuilding
homes, roads, schools, hospitals and other important infrastructure,
Hu said.
It employed 'vigorous oversight' to ensure effective use of
international donations, Hu told the diplomats and representatives
from the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies.
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