Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) comforts a baby at a relief center in Shifang city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 18, 2008. President Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), arrived in Shifang City to console the victims and rescuers on Sunday morning.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee , the Party's top leadership, held a meeting here on Thursday and called for the prevention of epidemics and the minimization of losses in the quake areas.

    The Party leadership ordered rescuers to search for trapped people in every village, to ensure that no one was left behind, and try hard to cure all injured people, in order to "save as many lives as possible."

    Chinese President and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao presided over the meeting, which heard a report by the State Council's General Headquarters for the Earthquake Relief.

    According to the State Council (cabinet) report, since the earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan and neighboring regions, on May 12, the armed forces, the police, medical workers, journalists, scientists, and people of all circles have been working together with the affected people and support from different institutions and sectors at home, overseas Chinese and the international community.

    The cabinet said that major progress had been made in the relief work, which has laid a solid foundation for the final victory of earthquake relief.

    At the meeting, the Party leadership came to a conclusion that the current anti-earthquake campaign still faced a serious situation and the relief job was enormously tough. It ordered shipments of more food, water, clothing and bedding, as well as tents and makeshift housing, to the quake areas.

    Repair quake-damaged infrastructure facilities and pay special attention to reservoirs, power stations and quake lakes, it said.

    The Party leadership also urged local authorities to maintain social stability and stabilize people in the affected areas, help local farmers to harvest and plant crops to restore agricultural production, and help students to go back to school as soon as possible.

    All localities and central departments must follow the arrangements of the central authorities, by on one hand working on the earthquake relief and on the other, maintaining economic and social development, according to the meeting.

    It called for going all out to support the affected areas and working hard to maintain steady, relatively fast economic development and social harmony and stability.

President Hu asks tent factories to boost production

Chinese President Hu Jintao (Front L 2nd) talks to the employees of a tent factory in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on May 22, 2008. Hu Jintao visited two tent manufacturers in east China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, urging them to produce as many as possible to meet the needs of the quake survivors. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao visited two tent manufacturers in east China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, urging them to produce as many as possible to meet needs of the quake survivors.

    Since the massive earthquake destroyed many houses, and reconstruction would take time, tents would become makeshift shelters for homeless people in these regions.  Full story

Health Ministry: no major epidemic reported in quake zone

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- No major outbreak of epidemic diseases or other public health threats have been reported in quake-stricken areas so far, the Ministry of Health said here on Thursday.

    The ministry began to use a mobile phone-based epidemic reporting system on Thursday to replace its direct reporting network, which was damaged in the quake.  Full story

Chinese Politburo stresses saving lives first in quake relief 

    BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Saving lives should be taken as the top priority during quake relief after nearly 15,000 were confirmed dead, a high profile meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee was told Wednesday.

    The meeting of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, presided over by President Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, urged more army, armed police, firemen and special policemen, as well as medical personnel be rushed to the quake-hit areas.   Full story 

President Hu orders utmost effort for Sichuan quake victims

    BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao on Monday ordered all-out efforts to help those affected by a major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale that jolted Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday.

    Premier Wen Jiabao was on his way to the area to direct the rescue work.  Full story