¡¡ BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong on Monday urged the public to learn the hardworking spirit of an outstanding transport technician to contribute to thecountry's modernization drive.

    He also stressed the government would take better care of modelworkers and outstanding figures like Chen Gangyi, a senior engineer of central China's Hubei Transport Planning and Design Institute, who has been working on major projects for 20 years since graduation from a college.

    Chen had managed the construction of two highway and bridge construction projects in Tibet since 2001. Despite being diagnosedwith cancer and undergoing surgery, he refused to quit and went toTibet four times till the successful completion of the projects.

    Meeting with Chen at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Zeng praised him for his outstanding contributions to Tibet's development, saying his dedicated spirit was "a precious spiritual treasure in building a relatively prosperous society in an all-round way and turning China into an innovation-oriented country."

    Zeng said the government would treasure model workers and outstanding figures like Chen and especially be more solicitous about their living conditions and health, helping them overcome difficulties and problems in their work and daily life. Enditem