Significant Progress Made in Quake Relief

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said on April 21st that significant progress had been made in relief work in Yushu region since it was hit by a strong earthquake a week ago.

"Rescuers have reached all affected villages, all the injured have been cured or are being treated, all the seriously injured have been transferred for treatment outside the quake zone, and all survivors have emergency shelters," Hui said at a meeting in Beijing.

The State Council, or Cabinet, meeting on quake relief started in the morning of April 21st with a brief silence in respect for the dead, which numbered 2,183 so far.

People felt reassured and the society was stable in Yushu, Hui said at the meeting.

He instructed officials to start planning reconstruction while taking into full consideration the geological, climatic and demographic characteristics of the quake zone.

At a similar meeting on Monday, Hui said the government would promptly draw up and implement reconstruction plans based on scientific assessment and good planning.