YINGXIU, Sichuan, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday expressed gratitude to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the organization's help in China's quake relief.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon answer questions from journalists from home
and abroad in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County in the
quake-stricken Sichuan Province, on Saturday, May 24,
2008. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Yingxiu Town Saturday
morning to visit victims of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake.
(Xinhua Photo) 5月24日,中国国务院总理温家宝在四川汶川县映秀镇会晤联合国秘书
长潘基文。这是会晤后,温家宝总理和联合国秘书长潘基文一同会见中
外记者。
"Our meeting is extraordinary here in Wenchuan County, the epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12," Wen told Ban.
The UN chief arrived in Chengdu, capital of quake-stricken Sichuan Province, Saturday morning and rushed to Yingxiu town in Wenchuan.
"On behalf of the Chinese people, I thank you for coming to the quake zone and extending your sympathy to the victims," Wen said.
While briefing Ban on China's earthquake relief work, Wen said that the country appreciates the efforts of the international community to offer rescuers, funds and materials to the quake zone.
"All these moves, including the UN emergency relief efforts, showcase all people's friendly feelings for China and their lofty humanitarian spirits," Wen said.
Wen told reporters around that this earthquake is historically rare in terms of its intensity, extension and destruction. Rescuers from all parts of the country have arrived in quake-hit areas as soon as possible and quickly started rescue and relief work, finding and saving more than 60,000 people within a few days.
The research work is ongoing on, but the priority will be shifting to the resettlement of earthquake survivors and reconstruction, Wen said.
Noting that the whole nation is doing its utmost for the relief work, Wen said the Chinese are convinced that they will overcome all difficulties and reconstruct the quake zones.
On behalf of the United Nations, Ban said his heart and sympathy went out to the Chinese people. Ban also complimented the Chinese government on how it had handled the relief and rescue efforts.
The international community is "deeply moved and inspired" by the prompt, well-organized response to the devastating earthquake, Ban said.
The relief work showed that the Chinese people are fearless, forceful and fortitudinous, Ban said, adding that China is a great nation where people are both self-reliant and team-spirited.
The UN chief said he was convinced that the Chinese government and people would prevail against the natural disaster.