Nation learns lessons from rebuilding Wenchuan

Ten years ago, on May 12, 2008, a devastating magnitude 8 earthquake hit Wenchuan county in Sichuan province. It killed nearly 70,000 people and left around 18,000 people missing. The disaster also left an indelible scar on the collective memory of the Chinese nation.

As the country marks the 10th anniversary of the quake on Sunday, we can take pride in how the stricken areas have risen from the ruins, in the fortitude of those who survived the quake, and in the helping hands that have been offered and continue to be offered to help them rebuild their lives.

Not least the huge amount of assistance in various forms provided by the central government and the governments of provinces and regions nationwide, which has helped the economies and disposable incomes of residents in the 39 counties and regions in Sichuan that were hardest hit by the quake expand more than threefold over the past decade. That is higher than the province's average, according to official statistics.