On July 16, 2008, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi attended the launching ceremony of the UN China Appeal for Early Recovery Support, which was held in Beijing with the aim to assist Wenchuan earthquake victims. Liu thanked the United Nations for its assistance and support to China after the earthquake took place, praised the UN for launching the Appeal, and introduced the plan of the Chinese government for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. Khalid Malik, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, spoke highly of what has been achieved by the Chinese people and government in disaster rescue and relief operations and pledged that the UN would provide support and help for the recovery and reconstruction operations in disaster-hit areas. There were nearly 100 representatives attending the ceremony, including representatives from related ministries and commissions of the State Council, foreign embassies in China, agencies of international organizations stationed in China and the business community.