Rescue and relief efforts have been carried out in a timely and orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
The strong earthquake struck Dingri County in the city of Xigaze Tuesday morning, leaving 126 dead and 188 others injured.
"Relevant authorities of the Chinese government has launched a level-II emergency service response and the disaster response and relief work is proceeding in a timely and orderly way. As we speak, the first batch of relief supplies sent by the central government has arrived in the quake-hit region; all roads damaged by the earthquake in Dingri County have been repaired and able to be open to traffic; power has been restored to the county center and multiple towns and villages of Dingri County; and telecommunication has been restored in the region affected by the disaster," said spokesman Guo Jiakun at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
"We believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the people there will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes," continued Guo.
Earthquake relief efforts carried out in timely, orderly manner in Xizang: spokesman
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visited China's National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) with Rosangela Lula da Silva, wife of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.
Rosangela is accompanying Lula during his current five-day state visit to China from Saturday to Friday at the invitation of Xi.
Peng and Rosangela visited the interior architecture of the venue, watched an art exhibition, and learned about the NCPA's efforts in promoting international cultural exchanges and popularizing art.
Peng then invited Rosangela to enjoy excerpts of classical operas and performances of Chinese and Brazilian songs.
Noting that both China and Brazil are major cultural countries, Peng said there has been active people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides in recent years, and that mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries have deepened day by day.
She expressed the hope that both sides will maintain this good momentum and promote mutual understanding and friendship among the two peoples.
Rosangela thanked Peng for the warm and thoughtful arrangement and appreciated the artists' entertaining performances.
She spoke highly of China's development achievements and splendid culture, and expressed her willingness to actively promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries and to continue making contributions to deepening the friendship between Brazil and China.
Peng Liyuan visits National Center for the Performing Arts with Brazilian First Lady
