Wen, in quake visits, highlights Chinese style of premiership

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with a  soldier in Beichuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 22, 2008. Wen Jiabao made his second trip to  the quake-battered zone on Thursday afternoon to oversee disaster relief work. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Rehabilitation was also discussed and a directive was issued to fully consider the geological conditions and bearing capability of the local environment so as to balance cities and rural areas, industry and agriculture.

The focus has shifted from rescue to rehabilitation of quake survivors and their communities, he said Thursday while en route to Sichuan. The latter "will be a harder and long-term task," he said.

Chinese are captivated by what the premier has done.

Chen Hui, a middle-aged mother in Chongqing Municipality near Sichuan that was also affected by the quake, participated in a text message prayer campaign for Wen.

She sent a text message to her son in Beijing, saying: "The 66-year-old Premier Wen has worked really hard for quake relief. He has comforted and moved us. Pass this on your friends, pray for him."

Chen received the message from a friend. The campaign, whose organizer is unknown, aims to collect 1 million prayer text messages.

A compilation of scenes of Wen's visit to Sichuan is popular on-line and Netizens have created a forum called "Premier Wen, we love you."

"As one of China's senior leaders, the premier not only manages the government's daily work but also displays the ruling party's ideals and principles personally," Ta Kung Pao said. "A premier of China can not be copied elsewhere."

 

Editor:Liu Fang