On Aug. 1, 2008, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China is to celebrate its 81st founding anniversary. Over the past year, the PLA has played a significant role not only in safeguarding China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security, but also in rescue and relief operations after major natural disasters.

On May 12 this year, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Sichuan Province and its neighboring regions, with Wenchuan County as the epicenter. The PLA was mobilized so quickly that the first army rescuers reached the quake zone 14 minutes after the disaster occurred.

In the face of the devastating disaster, the PLA raced against time to save lives and properties, and did an outstanding job. The army rescuers had saved and transferred to safe places more than 1.48 million people by July 12, according to statistics from the PLA's Department of General Staff.

On May 19, a team of PLA soldiers are carrying out an emergency rescue and relief mission in Shifang City of Sichuan Province, one of the worst-hit areas during the May 12 earthquake.

On May 16, officers and soldiers from the Jinan Military Area Command rush to Wenchuan County, the epicenter, braving falling rocks and landslides all the way.

On May 15, a PLA colonel looks up to watch for the debris of collapsed buildings, which may fall down any moment due to frequent and strong aftershocks, during a rescue operation in Dujiangyan City of Sichuan Province.

On May 13, in defiance of landslides and aftershocks, PLA officers and soldiers help transfer the injured people to safe places in rain in Beichuan County of Sichuan Province.

On May 17, PLA medical workers conduct an epidemic prevention and disinfection operation on the dock of the Aba Aluminium Factory at the Zipingpu Reservoir in Dujiangyan City.

On May 28, army rescuers are carrying disaster relief materials in Mianyang City of Sichuan.

On May 17, exhausted soldiers in Shifang City make the most of the intervals of the search and rescue operation to have a short break.

On May 19, a division of the PLA Airborne Force observe a silent tribute for earthquake victims at a site of rescue operation in Shifang City.

On May 13, the PLA rescuers in Beichuan County dig out a three-year-old boy named Lang Zheng, who has been buried under the rubble for 17 hours. Lying on the stretcher with a fractured left arm, the kid raises his right arm to salute his saviors.