Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has recommended that more publicity be distributed to publicize the successful relief operations for the victims of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while visiting the quake zone in southwest China's Sichuan Province from June 23 to 28.

The 8.0 magnitude quake on May 12, 2008, left more than 80,000 people dead or missing.

"The great victories and the glorious achievements made in the quake relief work, and the reconstruction and restoration, have demonstrated the political advantage of the CPC's strong leadership as well as its governing principle of people first," Li said.

They also showed the advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics that enables China to concentrate resources on major tasks, he said.

He called on the country's publicity and ideology departments to make full use of the victories and achievements in publicity and education of patriotism, ethnic unity and core socialist values.