Guo Boxiong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, who is in Sichuan Province to command the PLA's disaster relief work, presided over a meeting in Chengdu attended by leading cadres at corps level and above of the troops involved in disaster relief work. He stressed that the disaster relief troops must strengthen their leadership, organize their relief operation in a scientific way and bring their advantages into full play so that they can take up more rescue and relief missions and fulfill their missions still better.

　　Guo Boxiong stressed that the disaster relief troops must regard the fulfillment of their tasks as the top priority, improve the efficiency in organization and command, and create a sound situation in which there is division of labor and responsibilities as well as close cooperation and coordination among various disaster relief troops. The troops must assist local governments to actively prevent earthquake secondary disasters and regional seasonal disasters, so as to ensure the safety of people's lives and properties as well as the safety of servicemen themselves.

　　Guo Boxiong pointed out that the troops must intensify ideological and political work in disaster relief operations, and all cadres and Party members must give full play to their exemplary role. The troops must be prepared to stay in the disaster-stricken areas for a rather long period of time to perform tasks, take effective measures to ensure adequate supplies for the daily life of the officers and men so as to maintain the fighting power of the troops.

　　By Wang Shibin

　　(May 16, PLA Daily)                                                 Editor: Niu Xiao