Love without borders

• Source: Xinhua
• [13:33 May 14 2009]
• Comments

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Wenchuan, in China's southwestern Sichuan Province, on May 12, 2008, causing an enormous loss to life and property.

In the past year following the devastating earthquake, reconstruction work in the affected region has been underway in earnest. Various aid, along with endless expressions of love and good wishes from the international community and overseas Chinese, has been flowing into the region.

The aid represents a kind of special support that shows broad strength in countering disasters. It also acts as an emotional bridge that links China and the rest of the world to enhance mutual understanding, and is seen as a crystallization of humanitarianism that reflects love across borders.

The deadly earthquake caused grave losses. Searching for survivors became the top priority. Foreign rescue and medical teams from countries like Russia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore joined their Chinese counterparts and worked with them side by side in rescue operations in defiance of the dangers caused by the frequent aftershocks. Their humanitarian spirit and professionalism deeply touched the Chinese people, which gave them confidence and new hope.

For its part, the aid from overseas provided timely assistance to the Chinese people, just as a Chinese idiom says "sending charcoal in snowy weather."

Official figures showed that more than 170 countries and regions, and over 20 international organizations offered more than4.4 billion yuan (about 644 million US dollars) in cash aid and a large amount of relief materials, which has been seen as precious support to the Chinese people's relief efforts.

Overseas Chinese, regardless of their gender or age, also extended profound sympathies and provided valuable assistance to their motherland. They rushed to make charitable donations, including cash and goods, and did all they could to help the victims of the earthquake.

The care and support from overseas shored up the Chinese people's quake relief and rescue efforts and transformed it into a spiritual power which resonated between the Chinese and people of the world.