Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun visited injured children at a hospital and quake-affected students at a tent school in quake-hit Mianyang City in the southwestern Sichuan Province Sunday afternoon. He wished them a happy holiday on Children's Day.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, also offered school supplies to the children as presents.

He arrived in Mianyang Sunday afternoon to direct quake relief work. He was also to visit local residents and convey his condolences to the quake victims.

The death toll in the earthquake that jolted Sichuan Province and some other areas on May 12 rose to 69,016 by Sunday noon.

(Xinhua News Agencies June 1, 2008)