By Li Bo

In the monumental rescue efforts following the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in China's Sichuan province, the international community has demonstrated a highly commendable spirit of humanitarianism by extending helping hands, materials and sympathy.

Foreign rescue teams from Japan, Russia, South Korea and Singapore joined their Chinese counterparts in searching survivors and their professionalism was highlighted by their defiance of danger, around-the-clock work and scientific ways of rescuing.

Also heart-warming are the performances of international volunteers, many of whom are studying or working in China. They rushed to the earthquake-struck areas on their own to offer medical and other kinds of help, supplementing the rescue and relief efforts carried out by the Chinese government, army and people.

The heroic deeds of foreign rescuers and volunteers have so impressed the Chinese people and their leaders that Chinese President Hu Jintao took time after greeting visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing on Saturday to meet Russian rescuers and express his appreciation to them on behalf of the Chinese people.

While inspecting the disaster scenes in Sichuan shortly after the earthquake, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also grasped the hands of international volunteers to express his gratitude after encountering a group of members of the U.S.-based aid organization Heart-to-Heart International.

To help China overcome one of the worst natural disasters in its recent history, the world has immediately started a donation campaign.

By the evening of May 21, 15 countries and regions had flown to Sichuan more than 1,000 tons of aid materials, while cashes worth nearly 500 million yuan (72 million U.S. dollars), besides private donations, have been donated from abroad to China through diplomatic channels, according to official statistics.