Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese Pemier Wen Jiabao (C) arranges relief work of the earthquake during his flight for the disaster area on May 12, 2008. Premier Wen flew into southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon and left straight for the quake-hit county of Wenchuan, 159 kilometers from the provincial capital of Chengdu, to oversee rescue work there. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    CHENGDU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao flew into southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon and left straight for the quake-hit county of Wenchuan, 159 kilometers from the provincial capital of Chengdu, to oversee rescue work.

    Wen said during his flight that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council were closely monitoring the disaster relief work after Monday's earthquake.

    "I will be in charge of relief work headquarters that has been set up with eight departments covering rescue work, earthquake forecasting and monitoring and other aspects," Wen said.