China honors quake relief heroes

Source: CCTV.com | 10-08-2008 11:59

Full video: Ceremony honoring anti-quake outstanding organzations and individuals

Those whose efforts in the rescue and relief operations after the Sichuan earthquake were deemed outstanding have been honored in Beijing. A summary and awards ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday morning.

The Chinese government holds a grand ceremony on Wednesday to  honor organizations and individuals for their contribution to relief work after the May 12 earthquake.

Nearly five months after the devastating earthquake ravaged southwest China's Sichuan Province, Chinese leaders as well as those who made outstanding contributions to the relief and rescue operations gathered to summarize the experiences.

The May 12th earthquake was of the most devastating force and sparked the most difficult rescue and relief mission since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Nearly 70,000 people were killed, and thousands of others are still missing. After the quake, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council and the Central Military Commission immediately set up a quake relief headquarters.

Soldiers, armed police, military reservists, medical staff and volunteers struggled to rescue those buried under the debris. People in other parts of China and from abroad made significant donations. There were a lot of moving stories from the rescue and relief operations.