Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake    

    LANZHOU, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The lives of quake-affected people should basically be back to normal in northwestern China's Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in two months, and reconstruction in the two provinces should be basically completed by 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao has said.

    Wen made the remarks during his three-day visits to Shaanxi and Gansu starting from Friday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R Center) talks with 86-year-old Zhang Fengjun (L Front) at Quanli Village in Lueyang County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, June 20, 2008. Premier Wen inspected the areas affected by the May 12 quake in northwest China's Shaanxi and Gansu provinces on June 20-22. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Authorities should continue to stick to the 'people first' policy in their work, and guard against epidemics," Wen said, hailing the two provinces' efforts in reconstruction work since the May 12 earthquake.

    "I hope that life of the quake-affected people in Shaanxi and Gansu can be basically restored in two months from now, while reconstruction in the two provinces can be completed in two years," he said.

    Wen said the main focus of reconstruction in Shaanxi and Gansu is to repair and rebuild damaged peasant housing. More than 1.4 million rural houses in the two provinces were flattened by the major quake, affecting millions of local farmers.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (Front) inspects Quanli Village in Lueyang County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, June 20, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The new buildings must be safe, economical, and less land-consuming, with safety as the top concern, according the premier, who added that schools, hospitals, and other public buildings must meet the highest safety standards.

    In the meantime, Wen Jiabao said, efforts should be made to ensure the resumption of economic development in the quake zones. Authorities should make extra efforts in reconstruction work in poverty-stricken counties in the quake zones, to help with their economic development.

    Wen also called on local authorities to be ready for aftershocks, mud flow and landslides, and to limit casualties.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) talks with pupil Song Xue (Front) in the temporary "tent primary school" at Quanli Village in Lueyang County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, June 20, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The 66-year-old premier visited quake-affected people in the badly-hit Lueyang County in Shaanxi Province Friday afternoon, and urged people to resume farming while rebuilding their lost homes.

    He then visited students at a middle school and encouraged them to work harder and devote themselves to the development of their hometowns.

    Wen also inspected reconstruction work in Gansu's Longnan city on Saturday.

    "I had worked in Gansu Province for 14 years and the people here are hardworking, honest and persevering," he told the local residents in a quake-hit village of Kangping County.

    The premier praised the local residents for their self-reliance.

    In both provinces, he reminded the local officials to make the spending of subsidies from the central and provincial governments in accordance with the farmers' will and make the spending transparent.

    State Councilor Ma Kai accompanied Wen during the visits.

    As of Saturday noon, the death toll in the May 12 earthquake had reached 69,181.



CPC emphasizes party members' role in reconstruction after major quake

    XI'AN, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) should play a leading role during the reconstruction after May 12 earthquake, a senior CPC official said.

    Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, said Party members and cadres have shown their courage and spirit of sacrifice during the rescue work since the 8.0-magnitude quake jolted Sichuan and neighboring regions on May 12. Full story

Top legislature to review report on quake relief, reconstruction

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature is to review later this month a report, tabled by the State Council, the Cabinet, on the disaster relief and reconstruction that followed the devastating May 12 earthquake.

    The third session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) was expected to convene from June 24 to 26, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on Monday. Full story

Senior Chinese official calls for more publicity for post-quake reconstruction

    BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top publicity official Liu Yunshan said here on Sunday that more publicity should be given to post-quake reconstruction and the Beijing 0lympic Games.

    "People's efforts in rebuilding their hometown after the massive quake and patriotism as well as great spirits involved should be highly praised," Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, told a national conference of publicity officials.Full story

Top Chinese official stresses supervision in reconstruction after quake

    BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- He Guoqiang, a top Chinese discipline inspection official, has stressed the supervision in reconstruction of the quake-hit region and settlement of people affected by the massive quake during his three-day visit to the southwestern Sichuan Province.

    He, the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection secretary, urged the local government to ensure open and transparent use of relief materials and severe punishment over violations of law and discipline. Full story

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