The green hills stay still to listen to deep grief of the bereaved and the fierce Minjiang is wakening the creative power of the alive. On the afternoon of May 12, 2009, one year after the devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan, Sichuan and shocked the whole world, the event commemorating the first anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake was held in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event and delivered an important speech, expressing deep grief to the victims of the quake and the martyrs who gave their lives to win a great victory in the fight against the quake disaster. He called upon the party, the army and the people of all nationalities to vigorously carry forward the great spirit of disaster relief and win a complete victory in earthquake relief.

Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, also attended the commemorative event.

The site of Xuankou Middle School, Yingxiu Town, was selected as the main venue for the event. The venue is surrounded by shady cypress and dotted with white flowers. The atmosphere was solemn. The banner at the entrance to the venue was decorated with yellow and white silk flowers, setting off the words "deeply mourn for the victims of Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan”. In front of the ruins of school buildings, stands a huge symbolic clock showing the time of the quake, which stopped at 14:28. On the west side of the clock stands a massive commemorative wall with inscriptions recording the huge losses caused by the earthquake and the heroic deeds of the Chinese people in the fight against the earthquake disaster and embossed portraits depicting the rescuer saving people trapped in the ruins. On the damaged buildings on the eastern side of the clock, hung a huge banner with slogans reading "united as one, fear neither hardships nor dangers, indomitable, people-centric, respect for science", which expressed the fortitude and determination of the Chinese people to carry forward the great spirit of earthquake relief.

Around 14:20, in the Melody of Grief played by the trumpeter, President Hu Jintao and other leaders of the party and the state entered the venue and stood silently together with more than 300 representatives attending the event in honor of the dead.

At 14:25, accompanied by the Melody of Flower Dedication, 20 guards of honor walked slowly toward the clock and neatly placed 10 floral baskets in front of the clock. The floral baskets were dedicated by the CPC Central Committee, the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee and the Central Military Commission, central committees of democratic parties, the National Federation of Industry and Commerce and personages without party affiliation, people's societies and organizations, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.

Hu then walked up the steps with a solemn look and stood with rapt attention in front of a floral basket dedicated by the CPC Central Committee. He neatened the ribbons on the baskets.

At 14:28, exactly one year after the devastating quake shattered Wenchuan in Sichuan, the audience all stood in silent tribute to the victims in the earthquake and the martyrs who gave their lives in the fight against the quake disaster.

The silent tribute was followed by the solemn ceremonies of raising national flag and singing national anthem. Hu Jintao and other leaders of the party and the state sang together the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. With the singing of national anthem, the five-star red flag was raised gradually and flew high over the top of the destroyed tower in the ruins, demonstrating the strong will of the heroic Chinese people to overcome all difficulties and rebuild a new life full of hope.

Hu Jintao delivered an important speech at the commemorative event. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, President Hu paid great tribute to the cadres and masses, officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, armed police forces, the militia, the reserve and the police, who fought on the forefront of earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction, to the cadres and masses on all fronts, the democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, people's societies and organizations and all the communities, who provided strong support to earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction, and to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese, who provided assistance to the affected areas. Hu, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, once again expressed heartfelt thanks to the national leaders, governments, political parties, social organizations, foreign embassies, United Nations organizations, international agencies, foreign-invested enterprises as well as the international friendly people for their sincere sympathy and valuable support to earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction of China.

Hu Jintao pointed out that, in the face of the rarely-seen tragic disaster, the party, the army and the people of different nationalities, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, were united to brave the difficulties, achieved a major victory for earthquake relief, demonstrated the dauntless spirit, and wrote a touching song of triumph. With the strong support of the CPC Central Committee, with the hard work of cadres and masses in disaster-stricken areas and with the strong support of the people throughout the country, remarkable results have been achieved in rebuilding houses for urban and rural residents, rebuilding public service facilities such as schools and hospitals, infrastructure restoration and reconstruction, industrial reconstruction and restructuring, protection of historical and cultural sites, and ecological rehabilitation and significant phased achievements have been made in post-disaster restoration and reconstruction. The people in the disaster-stricken areas are marching toward a new life in big strides.

Hu stressed that in the earthquake relief and post-disaster restoration and reconstruction, the entire nation was united with one mind and the compatriots at home and abroad were united with one heart, which fully displayed the character of unity of the Chinese nation and the power of unity. The achievements made in earthquake relief and disaster recovery and reconstruction will inspire the confidence of the people of all nationalities to push forward the reform, opening up and socialist modernization drive.

Hu emphasized that China is currently in a crucial stage of responding to the impact of the international financial crisis and maintaining stable and relatively fast economic development. On the way ahead, we must take the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" as the guidance, further implement the scientific outlook on development, vigorously carry forward the great spirit of earthquake relief, and comprehensively promote the socialist economic, political, cultural, and social development, the development of ecological civilization, and party building so as to fulfill the grand blueprint drew by the 17th CPC National Congress. We must continue to take substantial measures to promote the good and fast economic and social development, regard maintaining stable and relatively fast economic development as the primary task of our economic work, and do a good job in securing growth, protecting the people's livelihood, and maintaining stability. We must continue to take substantial measures to push forward the post-disaster restoration and reconstruction work, make greater efforts and speed up the efforts to overcome difficulties, and strive to basically complete the three-year tasks in two years. We must continue to take substantial measures to strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation, comprehensively improve the ability to prevent and withstand natural disasters, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in such fields as disaster prevention and mitigation and international humanitarian assistance, and make positive contributions to preventing and withstanding natural disasters.

Hu Jintao said in his final words that the great practice of earthquake relief and post-disaster restoration and reconstruction once again tells us that unity is strength and we must fight to win. The party, the army and the people of all nationalities must be united to brave all the difficulties and risks on the way forward and do a good job in all aspects to welcome the 60th anniversary of the founding of new China with outstanding results.

Hu Jintao's inspiring speech delivered a firm message and was warmly applauded by the people.

When the Melody of Grief was played again, President Hu Jintao, with a white chrysanthemum in hand, walked slowly to the commemorative wall of the earthquake. He bent down and placed the white chrysanthemum in front of the commemorative wall.

The Melody of Grief echoed in the venue, Li Keqiang and other leaders of the party and the state took over chrysanthemums from the children in the affected areas and placed them in front of the commemorative wall.

The representatives from different communities all walked slowly to the commemorative wall and placed the chrysanthemums in front of the wall. The holy chrysanthemums carried the deep memory of the people for the earthquake victims and expressed the common wish of the people to rebuild their homes with concrete actions to comfort the deceased.

Other leaders attending the commemorative event include: Liu Yunshan, Li Yuanchao, Xu Caihou, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, Han Qide, Zhou Tienong, Li Jianguo, Jiang Shusheng, Chen Changzhi, Yan Junqi, Sang Guowei, Meng Jianzhu, Du Qinglin, Huang Mengfu, Qian Yunlu, Wan Gang, Lin Wenyi and Chen Bingde (member of the CMC).

Other participants include principal leaders of relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee, state agencies, and people's societies and organizations, central committees of democratic parties, and the National Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, principal leaders of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, local representatives responsible for aid and assistance, representatives of local cadres and masses, representatives of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Red Cross Society, and representatives of diplomatic envoys and international organizations.

The commemorative event was moderated by Liu Qibao, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee.

About 1000 representatives from the cadres, masses, teachers and students of Yingxiu Town attended the commemorative event on the board house campus of Yingxiu Primary School opposite the main venue.