Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, praised here on Saturday the Chinese army for their relief efforts in the country's earthquake-hit Sichuan province.
Speaking at the annual Asian Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Ma briefed defense ministers and military officials from 27 countries around the world on the participation of China's military force in relief operation in the aftermath of severe natural disasters in China this year, including this month's Sichuan earthquake.
"In the colossal earthquake 20 days ago in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, the Chinese government has given top priority to saving lives," he said, adding that "After the class-1 national disaster response mechanism activated, the military has taken immediate actions based on the Regulations on Military Participation in Disaster Relief as well as relevant deliberate plans."
Over 137,000 military troops are deployed to engage in a full scale of relief operations, according to Ma.
The military has pulled out 270,000 people alive from the debris, treated 313,000 wounded people, relocated 660,000 stranded residents and tourists, and repaired over 4500 kilometers of roads in this month, he said.
"During the entire relief operations, China's men and women in uniform have been playing the critical role in saving lives, calming down the affected public and recovering social order," he said.
He also thanked the international community for providing relief materials or sending professional rescue teams to China.
"I'd like to, on behalf of China's PLA, express our heartfelt thanks to the assistance of friendship provided by the aforementioned governments and armed forces," he said.
Speaking on international disaster relief missions, Ma said "China's armed forces is also an active member of the government-level international disaster relief missions."
The China International Rescue Team partly composed of military personnel has conducted search and rescue, medical treatment and disease control work in the aftermath of Indian Ocean tsunami, Pakistan earthquake, Indonesia Yogyakarta earthquake, he said.
The military also assisted the Chinese government in providing humanitarian assistance to 16 disaster-stricken countries.
"On the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and consultation on equal footing, China's armed forces stand ready to step up military-to-military exchanges with all Asia-pacific countries and press ahead with practical cooperation in counter-terrorism, peace-keeping, disaster relief, cross-border crimes and other areas," he said.
He ensured that China will work together with nations in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain regional peace and stability, saying that China is "committed to unremitting efforts for a harmonious Asia-Pacific region of lasting peace and shared prosperity."
Source: Xinhua
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