CRI听力: President Hu Attends Ceremony Marking Quake Anniversary in Sichuan

Chinese President Hu Jintao, has thanked the international community, for their contributions, after the devastating earthquake which hit southwestern China last May.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I once again express our most sincere appreciation to the leaders, governments and parties of many countries, their embassies in China and social communities, related departments of the United Nations and some global organizations, foreign-funded enterprises and foreign friends."

On the first anniversary of the natural disaster, Hu Jintao also expressed his condolences, to victims of the May 12th Sichuan earthquake, and to those who sacrificed their lives, during quake relief.

Speaking at the commemorative ceremony, at the epicenter, in Yingxiu township, he stressed the importance of post-disaster reconstruction. (www.hxen.net)

"We should continue the reconstruction in the disaster-hit regions earnestly, as it greatly concerns the basic interests of the survivors and the long-term development of the area. We should stick to the plans and try to rebuild the quake-ravaged areas within two years."

He says priority would be given, to the construction of public service facilities, pledging to move quake survivors, into permanant houses as soon as possible.

Official figures, show last year's magnitude-8 earthquake, left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.