Dear Friends,

It is my great honour and pleasure to welcome you all to the Chinese Embassy today.

It all shocked us when the massive earthquake hit China's Sichuan Province on May 12. The death toll amounts up to nearly 70,000,and over 40 million people has been directly affected.

Following the quake, the Danish Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, other government departments, organizations, companies and friends have sent us their condolences, and rendered invaluable donations and assistance to the Chinese people. The Danish government has donated 3.5 million Danish Kroner through the Red Cross and Save the Children. The Danish Red Cross made donations from both its own fund pool, and a fund-raising campaign from the Danish general public. Many Danish companies have donated through their subcompanies in China. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has counted a total of 7.8 million Renminbi, or 5.3 million Kroner.

A more visible Danish effort is the Base Camp, provided and built by the Danish Red Cross, with a capacity of over 100 people. The Secretary General of the Danish Red Cross, Mr. Anders Ladekarl is in China right now, to hand over the camp to the Chinese Red cross. We also have here today Benjamin Andersen, leader of the camp building team. He was back from China only last week, and he's going to give us more details about the camp and the situation in the quake-hit area.

At this occasion I also need to praise the Chinese community in Denmark, the representatives of whom are also present today. You led a most impressive fund raising campaign in order to help our sisters and brothers in Sichuan.

Dear Friends,

As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. On behalf of the Chinese Government and all those affected by the earthquake, I wish to express our most sincere gratitude to the government and people of Denmark. Your selfless support is much appreciated and will be well remembered.

It's of course not possible for this small reception to include all Danes involved in this massive campaign, so I have to ask your favour, to forward our thanks to those who are not here today.

My Embassy also received donations from Danish companies, private citizens, and the local Chinese community, for a total of 1.3 million Danish Kroner. .I can ensure you that all these donations have been transferred to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, who is coordinating the relief and reconstruction work. The Chinese government has pledged that the delivery will be open and transparent, and all domestic and international donations will be used for relief efforts and the post-disaster reconstruction.

At present, the initial stage of rescue and relief has come to a conclusion. The focus is now reconstruction, building homes for millions of dispossessed, and healing the wounds of so many that have lost their most beloved; in other words, leading the 40 million people's lives back to its track. It will be a battle even longer and much tougher. But we are confident that, with the solidarity of the Chinese, with continued support of the international community, we will finally prevail.

Once again, thank you all very much.