When Sichuan smiles, hearts melt

"The government made the figures of those dead and missing public, which is a big thing," he said.

The foreign media was free to visit quake-shattered sites and could tell the world about the kind of help China needed, he said. "That's why millions of Germans came out with donations for Sichuan."

Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto said he was "surprised to see the reconstruction work progressing so quickly".

"The Chinese government has the capability to organize the workforce in the face of such natural disasters," he said.

Daniel Piccuta, Charg d'Affaires of the US embassy, said the reconstruction work he has witnessed reassured him that Sichuan province would one day be beautiful again, and attract more tourists than ever before.

"I could see the people of Sichuan smiling. There was no better sight for me," Piccuta said.

Editor:Liu Anqi