China's central leadership urges all-out efforts to save lives in quake zone

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China's central leadership on Saturday urged all-out efforts to rescue trapped people in the quake zone in northwestern Qinghai Province.

It is at a critical time for the relief work that requires "enhanced strength and efforts to search every village and household" to search for and save survivors and make sure that no blind spot is left in the quake zone, it was agreed at a meeting attended by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee.

The meeting was chaired by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Efforts should be stepped up to transfer and treat the injured timely and effectively, and authorities should assist and well settle quake-affected people, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The transportation of relief supplies should be strengthened to ensure the local people can get daily necessities, including food, clothes, clean water and shelters, as well as timely medical treatment, the statement said.

The central leadership also called for intensified measures to be taken to prevent epidemic diseases and rebuild infrastructure.

Relevant authorities should keep wary of possible aftershocks and take precautious measures against the aftershocks and other secondary disasters to prevent further casualties and losses, the statement said.

The leaders stressed that open information about the situation of the quake and the relief work should be released in a timely, accurate, comprehensive and objective manner.

Efforts should be made to ensure social harmony and stability, the statement said. Donations, including those from foreign countries, should be managed and used properly.

Due to the devastating earthquake in Qinghai, President Hu Jintao cut short his trip to South America, postponing visits to Venezuela and Chile originally scheduled for this week, while Premier Wen Jiabao delayed his visits to Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar scheduled for April 22-25.

The death toll has climbed to 1,339 from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest China's Qinghai Province Wednesday, with another 332 still missing, rescuers said Saturday.

The quake has also left 11,849 injured, 1,297 severely.