President Hu Jintao on Friday highly commended the Russian rescue team's relief efforts in China's quake-hit Sichuan Province.

After a welcome banquet hosted by Hu for Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev, Hu met with three members of the Russian rescue team.

The 50-person Russian team on May 17 saved a 61-year-old Chinese woman who had been buried for 127 hours in quake-ravaged Dujiangyan City.

Hu said the rescue team did an "arduous job" and "took the risks" of fully engaging in the rescue work. "Your act not only demonstrated great humanitarian spirit, but also revealed the Russian people's friendly affection toward the Chinese people."

Hu added: "I am grateful to all of you on behalf of the Chinese people."

Igor Korneyev, a member of the Russian team, said Hu's meeting with them was the highest praise of their work, for which they felt very honored.

He said the Russian team expressed deep condolences over the casualties and losses of the Chinese people in the quake disaster.

The rescuers appreciated the Chinese people's support for their rescue work and wished for ever-lasting friendship between the two peoples.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2008)