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| Chinese mark quake anniversary | Chinese mark quake anniversary |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Chinese President Hu Jintao has led the commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. | Chinese President Hu Jintao has led the commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. |
| Mr Hu was joined by other officials at a memorial ceremony held in Yingxiu, the epicentre of the earthquake. | Mr Hu was joined by other officials at a memorial ceremony held in Yingxiu, the epicentre of the earthquake. |
| In a speech at the event, the president said Chinese people had "written a great chapter" with their rescue and reconstruction work. | In a speech at the event, the president said Chinese people had "written a great chapter" with their rescue and reconstruction work. |
| People across the earthquake-hit areas held their own private ceremonies to mark the loss of loved ones. | People across the earthquake-hit areas held their own private ceremonies to mark the loss of loved ones. |
| Mourners visited ruins and graves, lighting incense to comfort the dead. | Mourners visited ruins and graves, lighting incense to comfort the dead. |
| The earthquake, which struck Sichuan province on 12 May last year, left nearly 90,000 dead or missing. | The earthquake, which struck Sichuan province on 12 May last year, left nearly 90,000 dead or missing. |
| Reconstruction praised | Reconstruction praised |
| On the eve of the anniversary, President Hu said the disaster had galvanised the Chinese nation. | On the eve of the anniversary, President Hu said the disaster had galvanised the Chinese nation. |
| "Confronted with this immense disaster, the masses of Chinese people and military were as one, forming a fortress of unified resolve," Mr Hu said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. | "Confronted with this immense disaster, the masses of Chinese people and military were as one, forming a fortress of unified resolve," Mr Hu said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. |
| REYNOLDS' CHINA The official legend of the Sichuan earthquake does not have any inconvenient chapters Read James' thoughts in full | REYNOLDS' CHINA The official legend of the Sichuan earthquake does not have any inconvenient chapters Read James' thoughts in full |
| It was a theme he returned to in his speech at the memorial ceremony. | It was a theme he returned to in his speech at the memorial ceremony. |
| "We are going to win an all-out victory in our post-earthquake construction efforts," he told assembled officials, who included China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. | "We are going to win an all-out victory in our post-earthquake construction efforts," he told assembled officials, who included China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. |
| President Hu said the earthquake reconstruction would be completed one year ahead of schedule - by September next year. | President Hu said the earthquake reconstruction would be completed one year ahead of schedule - by September next year. |
| He added: "People in disaster-hit areas have been going back to their normal lives." | He added: "People in disaster-hit areas have been going back to their normal lives." |
| Time to remember | Time to remember |
| The ceremony, held among the ruins of the Yingxiu, was broadcast live across China. | The ceremony, held among the ruins of the Yingxiu, was broadcast live across China. |
| Rebuilding China's quake-hit zone class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8045413.stm">In pictures: Relatives grieve class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/8045925.stm">Voices: Remembering Sichuan | |
| It began when wreaths were laid at a sculpture of a clock - whose hands were set at 14:28, the exact time the earthquake struck. | It began when wreaths were laid at a sculpture of a clock - whose hands were set at 14:28, the exact time the earthquake struck. |
| President Hu, head bowed, then stood in silence to honour the dead. | President Hu, head bowed, then stood in silence to honour the dead. |
| Other, less formal, ceremonies to mark the occasion were held in other towns and villages in the earthquake-hit areas. | Other, less formal, ceremonies to mark the occasion were held in other towns and villages in the earthquake-hit areas. |
| Both locals and tourists visited Beichuan, a town that was completely wiped out by the earthquake and is usually barred to the public. | Both locals and tourists visited Beichuan, a town that was completely wiped out by the earthquake and is usually barred to the public. |
| They lit candles and incense, as well as ritual paper money, to remember their loved ones who died when the entire town was destroyed. | They lit candles and incense, as well as ritual paper money, to remember their loved ones who died when the entire town was destroyed. |
| "I feel the earthquake isn't over yet. Every time I see something about it, I feel like crying," Zhou Ya, a 20-year-old woman who lost several family members in Beichuan, told reporters. | "I feel the earthquake isn't over yet. Every time I see something about it, I feel like crying," Zhou Ya, a 20-year-old woman who lost several family members in Beichuan, told reporters. |
| China has been widely praised for its rapid response to the Sichuan quake. | China has been widely praised for its rapid response to the Sichuan quake. |
| My daughter was trapped underneath the rubble - she wasn't injured but she eventually died as no-one came to rescue her Grieving parent An Ping class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8046004.stm">Quake boy's road to recovery | |
| But many questions have been left unanswered. | But many questions have been left unanswered. |
| The government promised a full investigation into why so many schools collapsed during the earthquake, but none had yet been published. | The government promised a full investigation into why so many schools collapsed during the earthquake, but none had yet been published. |
| And parents who believed the schools had been shoddily built have been harassed for campaigning to get officials to look into the issue. | And parents who believed the schools had been shoddily built have been harassed for campaigning to get officials to look into the issue. |
| Chen Jigang told the BBC: "We still don't get an answer and we can do nothing about it. Our daughter was almost 18 years old when she was killed in the quake. | |
| "We have prayed for her to have a better life in the other world." | |
| Another grieving parent, An Ping, told the BBC's Chinese service that she had visited the ruins of the school where her only child had died. | |
| "When the quake happened, my daughter was trapped underneath the rubble. She wasn't injured but she eventually died as no-one came to rescue her. | "When the quake happened, my daughter was trapped underneath the rubble. She wasn't injured but she eventually died as no-one came to rescue her. |
| "Now, my child has been dead for a year. When our daughter was born, we expected her to grow up and bring us happiness. Now all our hope is gone." | "Now, my child has been dead for a year. When our daughter was born, we expected her to grow up and bring us happiness. Now all our hope is gone." |
| Even on the day of the anniversary, one parent told the BBC that he was being watched by police. | Even on the day of the anniversary, one parent told the BBC that he was being watched by police. |
| Are you in China? Are you marking the anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake? Have you visited the ruins and the graves? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in China? Are you marking the anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake? Have you visited the ruins and the graves? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |