Jet Li and staffs from his One Foundation aid in the quake-hit Sichuan Province. (Photo: sina.com.cn)

Jet Li's disaster-relief One Foundation set up an office in quake-hit Sichuan Province Wednesday, shifting its focus from emergency relief to reconstruction.

"Our work here is going to be long-term," Jet Li explained at a press conference in the provincial capital of Chengdu, where the office is based. The action film star flew there from Shanghai shortly after the May 12 earthquake, and has been an active volunteer since.

Foreseeing that rebuilding the quake-hit areas will take several years, Jet Li thinks a local office is needed to help his staff work more effectively. The focus of the foundation, he says, will be rebuilding schools and providing special care for those left orphaned or disabled.

Because the foundation has a star-studded volunteer line-up, the office will also serve as a reception center for them when they are volunteering in Sichuan, Jet Li says.

Jet Li and his foundation have raised 56.5 million yuan ($8.1 million) for quake victims by Wednesday noon.

(CRI May 22, 2008)