Wen speaks on relief, rehabilitation in China´s quake-hit areas

Source: Xinhua | 09-16-2008 21:05

BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The successful earthquake relief efforts fully proved, once again, the superiority of the socialist system, the governing capacity of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government, the abilities of the People's Liberation Army, and the strength of the Chinese nation.

Premier Wen Jiabao made these comments at a meeting on quake rehabilitation in Sichuan Province, southwest China, early this month.

The promotion of rehabilitation and economic and social development in areas devastated by the May 12 earthquake are an "arduous and responsible task" with "far-reaching importance," said Wen, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

He called for closely uniting around the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary to achieve new victories in the rebuilding efforts.

In his lengthy speech, Wen recalled the quake relief efforts since May 12, when an 8.0-magnitude tremor shook Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, leaving more than 80,000 dead and missing and millions homeless.

China had achieved a major victory in quake relief and minimized losses from the disaster, Wen said.

According to the premier, rescuers dug out 84,000 survivors from the ruins, moved more than 1.486 million people to safer places and gave medical treatment to 2.96 million injured people. Another 96,000 were sent to hospitals, of whom more than 92,000 were treated and discharged.

The government has provided financial aid to 10.584 million people who had financial problems due to the quake, including 286,000 orphans, elderly and handicapped people living alone. It had resettled 15.1 million people whose houses were damaged or whose neighborhoods became dangerous due to the earthquake.