Government and Policy

Premier Wen visits SW China quake zone

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-19 21:39

KUNMING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for comprehensive consideration to be given in the reconstruction at the quake-stricken Yingjiang county in southwest China's Yunnan province.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao comforts villagers during his two-day inspection of quake-ravaged Yingjiang county in Southwest China's Yunnan province, March 19, 2011.  [Photo/Xinhua]

"It is necessary to integrate reconstruction and a number of other purposes, including poverty eradication through development and renovation of dilapidated houses and construction of quake-proof housing in rural areas," said Wen during a two-day inspection tour to Yingjiang. The visit ended on Saturday.

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"A new and more beautiful Yingjiang will eventually take shape through our solid and hard work," said Wen.

Yingjiang county, which is a poverty-ridden area located near the border with Myanmar, was jolted by a 5.8-magnitude earthquake on March 10, causing 25 deaths and more than 300 injuries. Most of the inhabitants in the county are people from ethnic groups such as Dai, Jingpo, Lisu and De'ang nationalities.

During his inspection tour, Wen visited venues including two quake-ravaged villages, a portion of the quake-damaged embankment of the Daying River, one quake-damaged primary school, one center where more than 540 tents have been installed to house well over 3,300 quake stricken victims. He also chatted with quake-stricken villagers, primary schoolers, as well as soldiers from the People's Liberation Army who have been there to help with the relief work.

After being briefed about quake relief work of the past week, Wen stressed five more priorities in future efforts in this regard.

For a start, efforts should be made to ensure everyone in the quake-hit areas have food to eat and a place to live. A successful job should be done in epidemic prevention in the quake zone, where market supply should also be guaranteed with stable commodity prices.

It is necessary to carry out thorough checks into the situation of local houses and infrastructure to facilitate discovery and timely removal of problems and strengthen monitoring of locations with hidden dangers to prevent occurrence of the secondary geological disasters.

"Normal order of production and living should be resumed as early as possible, especially the functioning of public services including hospitals, banks," said the Chinese premier.

"A scientific planning should be introduced in arranging the reconstruction after the quake, while it is also necessary to set standards for quake resistance in architechture. But the focus should go for helping urban and rural residents rebuild housing," said Wen, who also stressed the importance of enhancing the support of recovery and reconstruction in quake zone.