Joint press conference on Feb. 1

Source: | 02-02-2008 10:20

The State Council Information Office on Friday held a press conference on contingency measures for coal, oil and power supply, transportation and disaster relief in snow-hit areas. Leading officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Communications and the General Administration of Civil Aviation attended the press conference.

The State Council Information Office on Friday held a press  conference on contingency measures for coal, oil and power  supply, transportation and disaster relief in snow-hit areas.  Leading officials from the National Development and Reform  Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of  Railways, the Ministry of Communications and the General  Administration of Civil Aviation attended the press conference.  (Xinhua Photo)

■China's snow havoc causes losses up to 53.8 billion yuan

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snow that snarled China's central, southern and eastern regions over the past three weeks caused economic losses of about 53.8 billion yuan (7.5 billion U.S. dollars), a senior official with the Ministry of Civil Affairs told reporters here on Friday.

The worst snow in five decades has so far killed 60 people and forced nearly 1.76 million people to relocate. Nineteen provincial regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp. have reported losses from the crisis, which toppled down 223,000 houses and damaged another 862,000, said Zou Ming, a ministry official. Full Story>>>

■China sets up command center to deal with snow disaster

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Cabinet has established a command center to coordinate contingency measures for coal, oil and power supply, transportation and disaster relief in snow-hit areas, said the National Development and Reform Commission on Friday.

The center, with its office at the commission, involves 23 Party and government departments and organizations, including watchdogs on traffic, public security, finance, health care and information as well as armed forces and energy giants.Full Story>>>

■China launches coal shipment project to ease power strain

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China started a ten-day project for coal shipment on the country's rail lines recovering from the ongoing snow chaos, the Ministry of Railways said Friday.

The ministry will make sure the daily average loading of coal exceeds 40,000 cars during the ten days. There will be a minimum of one million tons of coal transported daily on the Datong-Qinhuangdao rail line on average, said Zhao Chunlei, a ministry official in charge of train dispatching, at a press conference. Full Story>>>

Editor:Du Xiaodan