Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has expressed appreciation for the support and help provided by foreign countries and organizations to southwest China's quake-stricken areas.

During an inspection tour of the quake-hit Sichuan Province on Monday, Hui made the remark when he met a Russian rescue team that was searching for survivors in the ruins.

On hearing that the Russian team was working nearby, Hui, on behalf of the Chinese government, came to see the rescuers and expressed appreciation and respect for all foreign expeditions and rescue teams from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

He praised the professional work and international humanitarian spirit of the Russian team and thanked Russia for making the first response to provide material supplies to Sichuan after the quake.

Hui stressed that saving survivors with an all-out effort was still the top priority for the government and helping people recover production and rebuild their homes had also been taken into consideration.

China welcomed more help for quake-stricken areas from the international community, Hui said.

The 50-person Russian team arrived in Sichuan on May 16, bringing three heavy-duty professional vehicles for rescue work in the Mianzhu and Dujiangyan areas. They saved one middle-aged woman the next day.

In addition to Chinese rescuers, rescue teams from Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan and Hong Kong regions are working in Sichuan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)