Senior Leader Hails Journalists Covering Quake

Source: Xinhua

Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun conveyed his greetings on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday night to journalists reporting the deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Chinese news reporters have worked tirelessly for the past five days," Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said during his visits to the Xinhua News Agency and the CCTV Friday midnight.

They have shown to the world our nationwide concerted efforts and unyielding spirit in the disaster relief work, the government's 'people first' principle in its rescue operations, and the supremacy of the socialism," he said.

Li arrived at Xinhua headquarters at 11:30 p.m. Friday. He talked to reporters and editors on duty at the headquarters and spoke with reporters on the quake scene in Sichuan via video telephones.

Li was accompanied by Liu Yunshan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. They also visited the CCTV afterwards.

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to the disaster relief and rescue operations for Wenchuan quake victims. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had flown to Sichuan to direct rescue and relief work, while the whole country was mobilized to contribute to help quake victims" Li said.

He noted that a great number of Chinese new reporter have flung themselves to the frontline of the quake relief work in Sichuan despite possible physical dangers.

They have proven themselves as trust-worthy reporters with excellent professional skills, strong political drives, and upright conducts, Li said.

Li stressed that publicity authorities should continue to work tirelessly to provide spiritual drive for the disaster relief work in quake-hit areas, while taking good care of reporters at quake scenes in Sichuan.

He urged Chinese journalists to report in time the latest progress in rescue missions, measures taken by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to mitigate losses, and the efforts made by China's People's Liberation Army, armed police, and police officers along with people in quake-hit areas for disaster relief.

Journalists should also focus on the donations and other contributions made by the Chinese people across the country, to showcase the nation's concerted efforts in overcoming the deadly earthquake, Li said.