| President Hu Jintao changes his itinerary after earthquake strikes Qinghai Province.
"The Chinese Government is busy coordinating an emergency earthquake relief campaign. At this difficult moment, I need to return home as soon as possible to join our people in relief efforts."
Chinese President Hu Jintao, speaking to foreign leaders about his decision to conclude his tour ahead of schedule, showed his concern for the victims of the April 14 Yushu earthquake, which touched hearts all over China.
Hu had wrapped up his attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. when word came of the powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake. He immediately convened a meeting with other delegation members to analyze reports from China. Everybody was shocked by the loss of life and the enormous devastation in the disaster.
Hu gave instructions promptly. On April 14, he told government departments to do all they could to address the aftermath of the earthquake while sparing no effort to rescue victims. He also called on them to improve earthquake monitoring and take measures to alleviate aftershocks, as well as take good care of residents and ensure social stability in earthquake-hit areas. He also ordered the military to dispatch planes to transport rescue teams from across China to the areas and send troops to take part in disaster relief.
In line with Hu's instructions, the State Council established a command center for relief headed by Vice Premier Hui Liangyu. Hui traveled to the affected areas along with officials from departments of the State Council, the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force to oversee relief efforts and console residents. Qinghai Province also implemented its own contingency plan and set up an on-the-spot command agency.
A massive relief campaign started quickly. The timely rescue efforts were a reminder of the nationwide relief program after the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. "The heroic Chinese people will not yield to any difficulty," President Hu said when visiting earthquake-hit areas two years ago. While attending diplomatic events overseas, Hu closely followed progress in earthquake relief back home.
At a high altitude and with low temperatures, Yushu is populated by ethnic minorities including Tibetans. The area is largely poverty-stricken.
Hu kept asking repeated questions about where the rescuers were, how they were getting on rescuing those buried in ruins, whether the wounded were receiving treatment, if related materials were reaching the zone and how local residents were being resettled. The president grew increasingly concerned as further news about the earthquake came in. He decided to cut short his trip to return to China as soon as possible.
Originally, Hu was to attend the second BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries' leaders summit in Brasilia and pay a state visit to Brazil from April 14-17. Following that, he was to pay a state visit to Venezuela and a working visit to Chile.
Given the complex changes in the international situation and the weak world economic recovery, the BRIC summit would have major implications in forging consensus, strengthening cooperation and coping with global challenges. BRIC leaders had already arrived in Brasilia with high expectations. In a bid to make Hu's early departure possible while still achieving expected outcomes, the Chinese delegation consulted with other parties to reschedule his itinerary. Shortly after arriving in Brasilia on April 14, Hu held a conference to address the matter. The president instructed Foreign Ministry officials to discuss adjusting the schedule of the second BRIC summit with the Brazilians, while consulting with Russia and India. Since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was to arrive in Brasilia around 4 p.m. on April 15, the four countries decided to condense the summit originally scheduled to be held from April 15-16 into the evening of April 15. In addition, China and Brazil agreed to reschedule Hu's visit to Brazil, while canceling events including the welcoming ceremony and banquet. Brazilian, Russian and Indian officials said they fully understood China's decision.
The three countries' leaders and governments respectively sent their condolences to China shortly after the earthquake occurred.
In their messages, Russia's President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin conveyed their condolences to the wounded as well as the families of those killed in the earthquake and expressed Russia's readiness to assist with disaster relief. Medvedev once again conveyed his condolences on behalf of the Russian Government and people at a meeting with Hu in Brasilia. He reiterated that Russia, as a friendly neighbor, was willing to provide any help to China.
Brazil's Ministry of External Relations said the Brazilian Government mourned the deaths of victims and conveyed its condolences to the Chinese Government and people. Meeting with Hu, Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula de Silva said he deeply sympathized with the Chinese Government and people.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dispatched an official to deliver his letter of condolence to the Chinese delegation before his meeting with Hu. He also told Hu the Indian people were saddened by the great devastation of the earthquake, and expressed sorrow for those killed. President Hu also made late-night phone calls to postpone his visits to Chile and Venezuela. Hu called Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at 11 p.m. on April 14. About an hour later, he had a telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, also on a foreign trip. After briefing the two presidents on the earthquake, Hu told them he had to postpone his visits. Both Bachelet and Chavez said they respected Hu's decision:
Bachelet said she fully understood and supported Hu's decision to return to China ahead of schedule. On behalf of Chile's Government and people, she extended her condolences and sympathy to the Chinese people while Chile mourned the deaths of victims.
Chavez said he understood Hu's decision to postpone his visit to Venezuela. Conveying his country's condolences and sympathy, he said Venezuela was willing to assist China in earthquake relief.
In the first few days after the earthquake, a large number of foreign state leaders and heads of international and regional organizations sent letters and messages of sympathy to Chinese leaders, and otherwise conveyed their condolences to the Chinese Government and people. At a joint press conference after meeting with Brazilian President Lula, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, President Hu thanked the international community for its condolences and support. On April 15, the last day of his trip, Hu attended 10 bilateral and multilateral events. He talked of the earthquake on each occasion and was also briefed about the latest developments in the disaster area on the sidelines of the events.
At 11:30 p.m. on April 15, Hu's plane left Brazil for China. Hu spent the majority of the nearly 25-hour flight discussing plans for earthquake relief with high-level officials. |
