Eminent individuals also delivered speeches at the ceremony, including the President of the China Association of Taoism, Ren Farong, the Vice-Director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, Qi Xiaofei, and Li Zhaoji, President of Hengerson Land Development Company Limited, who has donated more than 100 million HK dollars (US$12.8 million) to the quake-hit areas.

The prayer meeting adhered to the Taoist doctrine of kindness, and it will bring inspiration to people in the disaster areas, said Qi Xiaofei.

Li Zhaoji hoped that the suffering would be able to return to their normal lives as soon as possible. He also called for more donations and help to the disaster areas for the purpose of rebuilding of communities.

A fund-raising ceremony was held after the prayer meeting,

About 15 million RMB (US$2.16 million) has been donated for relief to the quake-hit areas, according to statistics from the State Administration of Religious Affairs.