Premier Wen presides over quake-relief meeting in Sichuan

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-03-2008 08:44

China's earthquake relief headquarters under the State Council has met in Sichuan following the 6.1 quake that hit the southwest on Saturday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addresses a press  conference in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan, southwest  China's Sichuan Province, on the morning of Sept.  2, 2008. Wen Jiabao condoled quake sufferers and  held a press conference here during his visit on  Tuesday.(Xinhua Photo)

The meeting was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao who was already in the province to oversee relief work and to visit survivors from the earlier earthquake on May 12th.

The coming winter will put quake relief efforts to the test. Buildings need to be fixed and reinforced, and supplies of water and power needs to be ensured.

The disaster relief council says all work needs to be completed quickly, telling local officials that infrastructure such as roads and health centers must be repaired before the end of the month.

Students in the quake zones were also one of the top concerns at the meeting. The central and local governments have announced financial support for schools, with the new semester already started and teaching materials still in short supply.

Premier Wen Jiabao showed his care for students in person.

On Monday, he attended the opening of a temporary middle school along with more than 3,000 students and teachers.

Beichuan Middle School was among those devastated by the May 12th earthquake. This is the fourth time Wen Jiabao has visited students and teachers at the school.

Premier Wen Jiabao said, "A nation's misfortunes will be overcome and replaced by the nation's development. The country's future depends on you, on all of the young generation, on your courage and hard work."

Wen Jiabao stressed that, in life, one should always have the will power to confront adversity with courage and overcome any disaster.

Before his departure, Wen Jiabao took time to offer his support to dozens of students who were paralyzed in the quake. Wen also spoke with an extraordinary teacher, fifty of whose students passed this year's college entrance exams.

So far, about four million students in the quake zone have returned to classes.

Editor:Zhang Ning