President Hu Jintao on Saturday ordered that the title of "heroic quake-relief force" be given to a helicopter regiment that showed loyalty and courage in rescue work following last month's major quake in southwest China.

The command by Hu, also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, was announced at an award meeting on Sunday.

The regiment of army aviation under the Chengdu Military Command did an excellent job in quake-relief missions and showed great loyalty, courage and dedication, the command said.

All Chinese military members should learn from the regiment, which put people's lives first, it said.

The regiment has dispatched 1,848 helicopter flights for rescue and transport missions since the quake on May 12 and evacuated 1,126 injured people from the region.

More than 619 tons of food, water and medicines have been delivered and 2,171 people stranded by the quake were transferred by the regiment.

One of the regiment's helicopters crashed in a deep forest ravine in Sichuan Province during a rescue mission on May 31, leaving all five crew and 13 passengers dead.

The honor awarded to the regiment was the top honor of all the regiment members and all military members who participated in quake-relief missions, Xu Caihou, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said at the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2008)