Chinese president raises 'quake relief spirit' banner for nation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-08 23:04

BEIJING - President Hu Jintao on Wednesday urged China to carry on the spirit of unity, courage, "people first" and scientific thinking that characterized the relief effort after the May 12 earthquake.

At a ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People to honor outstanding organizations and individuals for their contributions to the relief work, Hu said the spirit should be promoted among the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the public.

This would help advance sound and rapid economic and social development.

Hu said the Sichuan quake caused huge loss of life and property and damaged economic and social development. It was a great test of Chinese will, courage and strength, as well as the Party's ruling capability.

The quake-relief work had tested and demonstrated the great achievement of the last 30 years of reform and opening up.

"The relief work showed the great strength of the CPC and the socialist state, the great strength of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, the great strength of the reform and opening up, and the great strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, and other state leaders, presented awards to soldiers, police, grassroots cadres, teachers, medical workers, journalists, construction workers and volunteers, among others.

The 8-magnitude quake was the most destructive since the People's Republic was founded in 1949, with more than 30,000 aftershocks, affecting 500,000 square kilometers over more than 10 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Gansu, Shaanxi and Chongqing.

It was felt in 417 counties, 4,667 townships and 48,810 villages, and left 69,227 dead with 17,923 still missing, while 15.1 million people were displaced, said Hu.

The direct losses exceeded 845.1 billion yuan (US$124 billion), as infrastructure was destroyed and industrial and agricultural production was affected, and caused major environmental damage.