The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is donating and building a large rehabilitation center for people injured in the deadly May 12 earthquake.

The PLA General Logistic Department, the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), and the provincial government of Sichuan signed an agreement on the project in Beijing on Thursday.

It will be called the August 1 Rehabilitation Center.

Deng Pufang, chairman of the CDPF and vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Liao Xilong, head of the PLA General Logistic Department, attended the ceremony.

The Central Military Commission (CMC) plans to invest 300 million yuan (43.8 million U.S. dollars) towards the project.

The 500-bed center will cover 13.3 hectares and have a floor space of 50,000 square meters. It will be located in the International Medical Zone in the Wenjiang District of Chengdu.

It is scheduled to go into use August 1, 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)