(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-18 08:56

CHENGDU - Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday night expressed gratitude to foreign countries and people who have offered aid since a major earthquake struck the country.

"On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I express heartfelt thanks to the foreign governments and international friends that have contributed to our quake-relief work," Hu said.

Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting on rescue and relief work after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake ravaged southwestern Sichuan Province Monday afternoon.

Hu also conveyed his greetings to the government officials and people in the disaster-hit areas, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), armed police, militia, reservists, public security staff, medical personnel, journalists and all people making "selfless devotions" to the quake-devastated areas.

More than 200 rescuers from Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore are in Sichuan to help with the rescue and disaster relief work.

A 61-year-old woman was saved alive Saturday evening by Russian rescuers after being buried for up to 127 hours in the rubble, the first survivor found by foreign rescuers.

The earthquake, the worst in decades, had caused 28,881 deaths nationwide as of 2 p.m. Saturday. Many countries have offered help including making donations and sending rescue teams.