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President Hu attends ceremony marking quake anniversary

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-12 14:52

YINGXIU - Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Li Keqiang attended a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, marking last year's massive quake here.

After guards of honor placed ten floral baskets in front of a symbolic clock, Hu walked and stood with rapt attention in front of a floral basket dedicated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to all victims during the earthquake one year ago.

All inside the venue for earthquake commemoration stood in silent tribute to victims at 2:28 p.m. (Beijing Time), the time when the massive earthquake took place one year ago.

Hu expressed condolences to victims of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake and to those who sacrificed their lives during the quake relief.

Hu, dressed in a dark suit, said China immediately launched the post-quake reconstruction based on the principles of "putting people first and respecting the nature," and has since made remarkable achievements in rebuilding residential homes and public facilities including schools and hospitals, as well as in industrial reconstruction and restructuring, historical and cultural protection and ecological recovery.

"The post-quake reconstruction has registered important progress, and the quake survivors are marching toward a new life," he said.

He expressed respect and gratitude to all those who have participated in the quake relief and reconstruction efforts, including civilians, military staff and the international community.

Hu also walked to a commemorative wall of the earthquake and placed a white chrysanthemum.

A man plays a trumpet at the beginning of the ceremony to mark the first anniversary of May 12 Earthquake in Yingxiu Township of Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 12, 2009. [Xinhua]