A European Union (EU) official on Friday spoke highly of China's reconstruction and development efforts in the earthquake-hit zone in Sichuan, southwest China, where a magnitude-8.0 quake centered in Wenchuan on May 12 last year killed more than 69,000 people.

"We must remember that the Chinese authorities have responded in an excellent manner and have of course the level of competence in civil protection for it to be able to largely respond on their own esteem," John Clancy, a spokesman for European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel, told Xinhua in an interview just four days before the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake, which also left nearly 18,000 missing, more than 374,000 injured and millions homeless.

"We are all very aware of the great tragedy that took place a year ago and the huge amount of suffering it brought to so many thousand people. Some 80,000 people's lives were lost. It was a great tragedy on a global scale," he said.

Clancy said that China's efforts in coping with the disaster has been "very positive" and "there has been a major effort" by the authorities to achieve the goals of reconstruction there.

Meanwhile, he recalled that the EU had responded positively following the devastating earthquake. "Overall, we provided some 150 million euros of assistance... For example, in the first days following the earthquake, we were able to assist the Chinese authorities with some 8,000 tents to help people who had lost their homes."

With the offer of humanitarian and emergency assistance, the EU has offered "humanitarian solidarity" to the Chinese people and the government, he said, adding that European Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva went to the earthquake zone several days after the tragedy to show the EU's "great solidarity."

Clancy also stressed the importance of international collaboration in dealing with disasters.

"We work in humanitarian assistance with our partners. Partners are absolutely key because they bring expertise," he said, "By working together, through the kind of humanitarian solidarity, we are in a better position to respond year by year to disasters wherever they occur in the world."

While lessons are always there to be learned from disasters, he said, "We are pleased to understand that the Chinese authorities are keen to learn from what took place a year ago today... We have to respond as the best as we can. We can all learn about how to better respond in the future.

He said that one year after the earthquake, the thoughts from the EU "are with the families, friends, all the people who have been touched by this terrible tragedy."

"It is important that they are aware that Europe wants to offer and share its solidarity at this time with these people, with the Chinese authorities," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2009)