Chinese premier makes latest visit to disaster-hit region, 3rd in 9 days

2008-02-05 13:48:42 Xinhua English

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R Front) greets people at Guanyin Village of Longli County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Feb. 5, 2008. Premier Wen Jiabao made an inspection tour in Guizhou, one of the worst hit provinces amid China's weather disaster, and extended festival greetings to local people on Feb. 5, ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Feb.5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proved himself to be one of the country's busiest men on Tuesday ¡V after speaking about disaster here in the morning, he was hours later right in middle of it, thousands of miles away.

Wen's visit to southwestern Guizhou Province Tuesday was his third to disaster-affected areas in the past nine days.

"Only when the masses are reassured, can the country be in peace. Only when the country is in peace, can the leaders be relieved," he said on the flight.

Upon arriving in Guiyang, the provincial capital at around 2 p.m., he hit the road to a site where electricians were fixing a broken power line against the clock.

Suffering from widespread blackout, Guizhou is one of the worst hit provinces amid China's weather disaster.

"Currently, we should ensure smooth transportation and power supply and take care of the people affected by the disaster," he said.

"Relief work has come to a critical point. We should not be slack, but keep pushing it forward."

Accompanying Wen were several central government officials, including Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu, Railways Minister Liu Zhijun and Communications Minister Li Shenglin.