Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said that reconstruction work of earthquake-shattered areas in Sichuan Province must still overcome challenges before it can be judged a complete success.
Wen made the remarks while visiting the quake zone from Thursday to Saturday. It was his eighth visit to the region since the May 12 earthquake last year that left almost 90,000 people dead or missing.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R4, front) sits with villagers in a house built after the May 12 massive earthquake, in Lianghua Village, Liangshui Town of Qingchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 24, 2009. Wen visited the areas hit by the quake in Sichuan before the National Day, to inspect and direct the reconstruction work of earthquake-shattered areas. |
Wen encouraged officials and the public to continue reconstruction work in ways that put people and their livelihoods first.
In the three days, Wen visited epi-center Wenchuan County, Beichuan County, and Qingchuan County.
Reconstruction of 1.24 million permanent rural residences, about 97 percent of the total number of houses in need of rebuilding, has so far been completed. Almost 3,000 schools are under reconstruction, about 87 percent of the total in need.