Key facts
- Premier Li Qiang visited Tangshan on Tuesday for the 50th anniversary of the 1976 earthquake.
- Li paid respects on behalf of President Xi Jinping, who was hosting Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Beijing.
- The 1976 earthquake killed over 242,000 people and seriously wounded 164,000.
- Li laid a wreath at a memorial and met survivors paralyzed by the disaster.
China's Premier Li Qiang, the country's second-highest-ranking leader, visited the city of Tangshan on Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of a devastating 1976 earthquake. This commemorative trip is typically made by President Xi Jinping, but Xi was hosting Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Beijing.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in 1976 was one of the deadliest in recorded history, claiming over 242,000 lives and seriously injuring 164,000 people in the Tangshan region. Thousands were orphaned by the disaster.
President Xi Jinping had visited Tangshan, located about 150 km east of Beijing, for the 40th anniversary of the quake. Previous presidents Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin had visited for the 30th and 20th anniversaries, respectively.
Premier Li laid a wreath at a memorial for the victims and rescue workers and bowed in respect. He also visited a sanatorium to meet survivors who were paralyzed by the earthquake, conveying President Xi Jinping's deep care and concern for their well-being.