A charity forum opened Wednesday in southwest China's Sichuan Province that is still recovering from a devastating earthquake last year.

More than 300 representatives from charity organizations and business from around the world would discuss the role they can play in combating major disasters, relief work and post-disaster rebuilding in the two-day event held in Suining City.

It was the first charity forum hosted by the China Charity Federation after the 8.0-magnitude quake struck Sichuan on May 12 last year, which left about 87,000 people dead or missing.

"I believe the forum can help improve the social support for charity cause," said Liu Guolin, secretary-general of the China Charity Federation.

Public donations and charity organizations have played an important role in the post-quake rebuilding of Sichuan.