Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin presents a set of five "Fuwas," the mascots of the Beijing Olympic Games, to an injured student Guo Tingting at Sichuan Provincial Renmin Hospital in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 29, 2008. Jia, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, came to the quake-hit Sichuan Province on Thursday to express his sympathy and solicitude for people affected by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in earthquake-ravaged Sichuan Province on Thursday afternoon.

    Jia, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, expressed his sympathy and solicitude for people affected by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12.

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin (R) comforts an injured student Guo Tingting at Sichuan Provincial Renmin Hospital in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 29, 2008. Jia, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, came to the quake-hit Sichuan Province to express his sympathy and solicitude for people affected by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    With him were leaders of the central committees of various democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

    "We should find out what are the exact needs and real expectations of the quake-affected people, as well as what is the most urgent problem to be addressed in the relief work so that we could make more sensible proposals to the Party and government," he said on board a plane.

    Shortly after Jia's arrival, he visited a major hospital in Chengdu, the Sichuan provincial capital.

    He told injured student Guo Tingting to be confident of a quick recovery and to go back to school. He presented her with a set of five "Fuwas," the mascots of the Beijing Olympic Games.

    When chatting with Li Xiaobin, a patient of the Qiang ethnic minority, Jia said the rebuilding efforts should take account of the needs from ethnic minorities and pay more attention to protecting their own cultures.

    Later, Jia met with local political advisors and the business circle, asking them to try their best to help the government carryout relief work.

    He also met with domestic and overseas Buddhist and Taoist representatives, appreciating their active engagement in quake relief.

    The central government's relief policies should be well implemented and more efforts should be made to improve life of the displaced people, especially in their housing problem, Jia said.

    Rehabilitation was long-term task and should start as early as possible, he said.

    "We should mobilize political advisors and people from all walks of the society to take part in relief and rehabilitation so as to help the country win the battle against the disaster," he said.