A photo exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake that killed more than 87,000 people was held on Thursday in the European Parliament building in Brussels.

The exhibition is mainly to thank the European Union, its member states and people for their generous and timely help delivered to the disaster-hit areas ten years ago.

The vice-governor of Sichuan province, Yang Xingping, led a delegation to Brussels to thank the EU, its member states and their people for the assistance, including 85 million euros ($105 million), sent to China in the wake of the disaster, the 20th most damaging earthquake in recorded history.

Chinese Ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming joined the Vice-President of the European Parliament Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Chair of the China-EU Friendship Group of European Paraliment Nirj Deva and European Parliament member Istvan Ujhelyito to mark the anniversary.

On May 12, 2008, a magnitude-8 earthquake hit Wenchuan, in Sichuan, Southwest China.

“Forever, we will remember that the rescuer and medical staff from Europe had saved lives in ruins racing against time in those days,” said Yang at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The photos showed the Dutch relief team racing against time, French and Italian doctors saving lives and also a new-born baby, who now must be aged ten, with the help of Chinese and German Red Cross staff.

“Presenting Wenchuan’s achievements is the best way to say thank you to those who have helped her, including the EU,” said Zhang.

Having stood the test of the disaster, Zhang said China-EU friendship has become even stronger and is the most valuable thing to China.