The Sichuan earthquake disaster has highlighted many changes in China, such as its willingness to accept outside aid in contrast to the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, when Beijing insisted on self-reliance and refused all offers of assistance.
In terms of foreign relations, it also had one very significant effect: an improvement of ties between China and Japan. Japan, which has a history of earthquakes, was the first foreign country whose offer to send a rescue team to the devastated region was accepted by China.
Subsequently, Japanese medical personnel were dispatched to Sichuan to provide assistance to survivors.