NINGQIANG, Shaanxi, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao wished
quake-affected kids a happy holiday ahead of Children's Day in northwestern
Shaanxi Province, also heavily hit by the May 12 earthquake.
On Saturday morning, Hu arrived at Ningqiang county, neighboring to
worst-hit Sichuan Province.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) sends stationery to children
and wishes them a happy Children's Day in a tent school in Jinshansi Village,
Guangping Town, Ningqiang County, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, May 31,
2008. Hu Jintao arrived in Shaanxi Province on Saturday morning to oversee quake
relief operations.
A magnitude 5.7 aftershock hit Ningqiang around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, leaving
at least one injured, 860 houses destroyed and 3,100 damaged, adding up the
damages.
Almost all the 340,000 locals in Ningqiang County were urged to live
outdoors amid fear of possible aftershocks.
At Jinshansi village, almost all houses were flattened and villagers were
living in tents for days.
As the Children's Day falls on Sunday, Hu went into a tent school in the
village to condole the kids suffering from the quake.
Chinese President Hu Jintao inquires about the situation of a
wounded girl in the earthquake in a tent in Jinshansi Village, Guangping Town,
Ningqiang County, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, May 31, 2008.
"Today you have to study in the tent. But I promise you to help you build a
new school. You will be sure to have a better classroom," he said after children
stood up together and greeted him.
Then the President picked up a chalk, wrote 16 Chinese characters on the
chalkboard and recited them together with the kids, "One in trouble, all to
help; Rely on ourselves and work hard."
"When we rebuild our hometown, we should stick to this two sorts of
spirits," Hu said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) talks to quake survivors in
Jinshansi Village, Guangping Town, Ningqiang County, Shaanxi Province, northwest
China, May 31, 2008.
"Many children are very brave and strong in front of the major earthquake.
I have learned from you and see the hope of the quake-hit regions and the whole
country. I believe you will strive to become stronger and work hard in the
future," he said.
Hu wished the kids a happy holiday and handed around gifts to them.
He then inspected relief work at the village and asking local officials to
set the examples and lead residents to rebuild the hometown.
Chinese President Hu Jintao talks to a resident injured in the
May 12 quake in Jinshansi Village, Guangping Town, Ningqiang County, Shaanxi
Province, northwest China, May 31, 2008.
At a medical camp, Hu walked from bed to bed, asking patients' conditions
and heartening them to recover through treatment and good rest.
He shook hands with 12-year-old Zhao Shasha, who was receiving treatment
there, and said, "Let's make a friend."
He also stopped 65-year-old Tao Yaoxiu from sitting up from herbed. The
tearful elderly thanked him for coming to visit them and Hu answered, "We are
people's servants. We should take care of your business."
He thanked medical workers for trying their best to save people and hope
them to work harder to help locals.
News spread soon about the visit of President Hu and more villagers came to
see him.
"We are thinking of you and worrying for you difficulties. Please don't
worry, the Party and government will try every method to settle you down and
rebuild your hometown," he said. "We will pull through the hard time with
support and assistance from the government and people nationwide as well as your
own efforts. Your life will be better."
On Saturday evening, Hu said at a meeting that the local government should
balance the quake relief and economic development but relief work would top the
agenda.
The country should first solve the most urgent housing problem, he said.
More tents and shiftable houses should be shipped to the quake zone so that
locals can settle down and kids can go to school.
He also asked local governments to well organize people to pickup farming
as the harvest season is drawing near.
