Chinese Premier Wen visits quake-hit Sichuan to extend new year greetings

Source: Xinhua | 01-27-2009 08:12

Video: Premier vists quake zone to give best wishes

CHENGDU, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao extended Lunar New Year greetings on behalf of the government and joined holiday festivities in quake-hit Sichuan Province in southwest China over the weekend.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) talks to women of Qiang ethnic group at Maoershi Village, Leigu Township of  Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 24, 2009. Wen Jiabao came to the quake-hit counties of Beichuan, Deyang and Wenchuan in Sichuan Province on Jan. 24 and 25, celebrating the Spring Festival with local  residents. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Wen visited villagers, students, medical workers and police in Beichuan, Deyang and Wenchuan, which were among the worst-hit areas in the 8.0-magnitude quake that struck on May 12.

It was Wen's seventh visit to the province since the quake, which was centered in Wenchuan County. The earthquake left more than 69,000 people dead, 374,000 injured, 18,000 missing and millions homeless.

Wen started with a visit to Wang Chengyi's home on Saturday afternoon. Wang, a middle-aged villager of Qiang nationality, lives in a newly-built Qiang village in Beichuan County.

He told the premier that his new home was built with more than 20,000 yuan (2,940 U.S. dollars) of government subsidies, 50,000 yuan of interest-free loans and some of his own savings.

"It is like a dream for me to celebrate the Lunar New Year in anew house," he said. Wen wished the family a warm and happy holiday.