Japanese rescue team is at work after the devastating earthquake in Sichuan.

China gives awards to eleven foreign rescue teams on Sunday, the latest move to recognize their contributions in relief work after a deadly quake struck the country's southwest in May.

Relief teams from Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore and Britain received honorary medals from officials at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Foreign rescue teams were invited to help with relief work soon after a magnitude-8 earthquake struck China's southwest Sichuan Province and its neighboring region on May 12.

The disaster has left more than 87,000 people killed or missing and millions homeless.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2008)