The quake relief efforts by the Chinese government were "really remarkable, fast and efficient," Canadian Secretary of State Jason Kenny said on Wednesday.

"Obviously it's the largest humanitarian relief operation in recent history," said Kenny as he paid condolences to the victims of the quake and their families at the Chinese Embassy.

"It's difficult for any other country to mobilize such kind of resources China has in such a short time," Kenny said.

He reiterated that the Canadian government will match donations of Canadian individuals to humanitarian organizations assisting the relief efforts in China.

More than 1,000 Chinese Canadians, dozens of government officials and foreign diplomats have come to the embassy to express condolences to the earthquake victims and their families.

The 8.0-magnitude quake, which struck southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, has left more than 40,000 people dead and 274,683 others injured as of noon on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)