Speech by Feng Jianshen

Good afternoon!

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and the Provincial People's Government, firstly of all, I'd like to express sincere gratitude to the press for its attention and support to Gansu , and to all the people for their great concern for and assistance to the anti-quake and relief work in Gansu .

When the disastrous earthquake erupted in Wenchuan on May 12, Gansu Province was also greatly stricken and it has suffered from big losses in people's lives and property. Thus Gansu Province became the second worst-hit area next to Sichuan Province . The earthquake, which is rare in the history of Gansu Province , affected extensive areas, brought about great destruction, big losses and even rigorous difficulty in reconstruction. According to the preliminary data, up to June 14, 10 cities, 70 counties, 941 towns and 10,946 villages have been stricken. 1,298,034 families and 5,266,106 people have been affected. 365 died and 10,158 people were injured. 1,797,000 people have resettled down. 293,953 houses and 1,322,170 rooms collapsed, 2,438,014 rooms were damaged. According to the estimation made by Gansu Seism Bureau, the devastating earthquake has caused immediate economic losses of 44.28 billion yuan. 44 counties, 693 towns and 9,043 villages in 8 cities as Longnan, Gannan, Tianshui, Qingyang, Pingliang, Dingxi, Baiying and Linxia were stricken in over 6-degree shock on Richter scale. The number of casualties was 50001 million and 16411 million people urgently removed and resettled down.

Gansu was greatly affected by the earthquake, first, because it is close to the seismic center, therefore serious damages occurred and vast areas were affected. Second, the terrain made the earthquake even more serious, thus the mountain areas were severely stricken. Secondary disasters that occurred frequently made the situation even worse. Third, the houses are poor in anti-seism and a great number of houses were knocked down or heavily damaged. Fourth, the lifelines such as transportation, electricity, communication and waterpower were seriously destroyed. Fifth, industry and agriculture were seriously affected. Sixth, it was very difficult to conduct rescue in such a situation.

When the disastrous earthquake happened, the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government attached high importance to the disaster. General Secretary Hu Jintao went to the quake-stricken areas in Longnan , Gansu Province, to inspect and supervise the anti-quake and relief work, which greatly inspired the confidence and spirit of the people in Gansu to obtain the overall victory of anti-quake and relief work. Other leaders of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government such as Wen Jiabao, Li Keqiang, Hui Liangyu and Liu Yandong etc. enquired by phone about the anti-quake and relief work in Gansu. Li Keqiang, Zhou Yongkang and Xu Caihou went in succession to the most seriously-affected rural and poverty-stricken areas such as Wenxian County , Wudu County and Kangxian County of Longnan City to inspect and supervise the resettlement and reconstruction after the disaster. The Ministries of the State Council energetically appropriated relief materials and funds which have effectively solved many problems. Till June 14, the central budget had distributed 4.884 billion RMB yuan. China Red Cross Association, other provinces, cities, enterprise, all walks of life, and moreover, the international communities showed much concern and offered generous assistance and help.

Facing the sudden disaster, the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Gansu Provincial People's Government made quick response and urgently mobilized to carry earnestly on the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government. A number of practical measures were drastically taken to conduct the anti-quake and relief work throughout the province.

Firstly, strengthen the organization and start emergency response preplan. on the evening of May 12, Gansu Anti-quake and Relief Leading Group came into existence, Lu Hao, secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of Gansu Provincial People's Congress, assumed the responsibility of director of the Leading Group and Xu Shousheng, deputy secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Governor of the provincial people's government, vice director. Governor Xu Shousheng assumed commander in chief of Gansu Anti-quake and Relief Headquarters. A preplan was implemented immediately, secretary Lu Hao and Governor Xu Shousheng went to Longnan, the worst-hit area to direct and supervise the relief work. The cadres and Party members were all fighting at the frontline to unfold effective rescue work in disaster areas.

Secondly, the rescue staff started the rescue work immediately and tried all the best to cure injuries and transferred stranded persons. On the evening of May 12, military soldiers, policemen and medical teams were quickly assembled to rush to the disaster areas to rescue the quake-stuck people, and treat the injured. Experts and military engineering soldiers of No. 61 Division were dispatched to Jialing Town , Huixian County , the very night to study the dangerous blockade caused by landslides in the Jialingjiang River and got ready for blasting at any moment in relief of any occurent danger. On May 13, Lanzhou Military Army Group and its air force dispatched the army, medical teams and helicopters to join the relief work. Those who were severely wounded were sent to Tianshui and Lanzhou by helicopters and those light injuries were cured in time in the nearest hospitals. Till June 14, 9626 injuries were cured, including which 7887 injuries were cured in outpatient wards, 1739 in hospital and 52 died in hospital.

Till June 14, 8560 PLA solders and police army, 4000 reserve militia solders were committed to the relief work, 9 helicopters, 1 cargo plane and a troop of vehicles were transporting the injuries, medical team and rescue materials. 142 medical and epidemic prevention teams and 7453 medical and epidemic prevention staff were unfolding rescue and epidemic control work.

Thirdly, quickly transferred the relief materials and funds and resettled the stricken people. After the earthquake, we organized to send 7600 tents, medical equipments and medicines to the disaster areas. Till June 14, a fund of 5.329 billion yuan was collected and a donation fund of 376,000,000 yuan was distributed to the disaster area with cash of 815,000,000 yuan. 39 billion yuan was allocated. 96,600 relief tents, 292,500 meters' relief cloths, 39,800 tons' flour, instant noodle 76,100 boxes, 2,535,500 clothes, medical equipments 49,800 and medicine valued 52,011,800 yuan. We earnestly implemented the assist and condoling policies,

Fourthly, repaired the damaged traffic, communication and electric power infrastructures and prevented the secondary disasters. After 30 hours' efforts, the traffic, electricity and telecommunication in counties were all resolved. Till May 21, 10 pm, the electricity of 866,600 stricken families was reconstructed. On May 22, 6 pm, all the national, provincial, county, town and village highways that were affected by the earthquake were all got through. On May 24, 9:50 am, No. 109 tunnel of Huaxian to Yuguan part of Baocheng (Baoji-Chengdu) Railway was knocked through after 283 hours' jam.

Fifthly, unfold the epidemic prevention work after disaster. We strengthened the inspection and supervision on drinking water, the sanitary of environment and food. Till June 14, the environment sterilizing, insects and rats killing work had covered 36.966 million squire meters. 160,000 dead stocks were safely disposed. We organized the stricken people to build a good sanitary environment and till now, there were no infectious diseases relevant to the earthquake.

Sixthly, focused on maintaining social security. We are attacking illegal activities such as stealing, spreading of rumors and stirring of public scare. Solve the practical problems of the stricken people and resolve contradictions. We also strengthened the supervision on building materials and living essentials with price intervention.

Meanwhile, Gansu and other provinces are all assisting the anti-quake and relief work in Sichuan province.

With the united efforts of all the people and soldiers, especially the cadres and stricken people in disaster areas, we are maintaining significant period achievements in the relief work. Currently, a steady social order is maintained in disaster areas, the people are reassured and they all have very positive attitudes and desire to rebuild their hometown. The relief and reconstruction work are promoted in a very good order.

On May 19, the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee put forward that while we focused on the anti-quake and relief work, we should also adhere to the plan and reconstruction work. We are now unfolding the basic work of after-disaster resettlement and reconstruction, promote the supporting and assistance cooperation with brother provinces. The evaluation work of the situations of damaged houses and infrastructures is promoted. We have made a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction work and favorable tax policies. 80,000 anti-quake temporary houses distributed by the Ministry of Construction are now fixing, technical staff from Beijing , Shanghai and Tianjin have arrived there. The assisting group led by the chief officials of CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee went to Wenxian County to implement the assisting work.

Gansu is an under-developed province, the anti-quake and relief work as well as reconstruction task have lots of difficulties and challenges. I sincerely hope that all social sectors will continue to concern and support Gansu 's reconstruction work. The Outline of the Overall Plan of the Reconstruction after Disaster of Gansu Province (Draft) has now been delivered to the National After-Quake Reconstruction Planning Office. We compiled The Outline of the Planning of Urban and Rural System reconstruction after Earthquake of Gansu Province.

Currently, we are focusing on the anti and relief work on one hand and on the other hand, we are continue to attach high importance on economic and social development to insure a steady and rapid economic development this year.

We believe under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Counsel, with the strong support of all the people, the social sectors and the assistance of the brother provinces, we will with no doubt, overcome the devastation and achieve victory of the anti and relief work.

Now, I would like to answer your questions.