The Chinese government is to hold a grand ceremony on Wednesday to honor organizations and individuals for their contribution to relief work after the May 12 earthquake.

China Central Television (CCTV) will broadcast the 10:00 AM event live on six channels including the English, Spanish and French services and its website.

Leading news websites xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, Radio China and China Radio International (CRI) will also carry live coverage.

At a meeting on quake rehabilitation last month, Premier Wen Jiabao recalled the quake relief efforts after the 8-magnitude earthquake devastated Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, leaving more than 80,000 dead or missing and millions homeless.

China had achieved an "initial victory" in quake relief and had minimized losses from the disaster, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2008)