Members of Japanese medical team arrive at the Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, June 2, 2008. A 23-member Japanese medical team returned to Japan from the quake-hit southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday. The team cured a total of 1,355 patients since May 20 when they arrived in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

On May 15, the Chinese government allowed professional foreign rescue teams to head to quake-hit areas in Sichuan Province for relief efforts. The international rescue operation has united the hearts of different countries.

Japanese rescuers prepared for efforts in less than six hours

A Japanese rescue team arrived in Sichuan on May 16 as the first foreign aid personnel to help China with quake relief. The rescue team left from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, to Qingchuan County, one of the worst-hit areas, which is about 400 kilometers from Chengdu.

The Japanese rescuers headed to the area in spite of constant aftershocks, sinking, cracks and rubble on the roads to Qingchuan.

It took less than six hours for the rescue team to prepare for the trip, said Li Wenliang, an Information Department counselor in Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.