1. 1st Anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake
1A. China issues first disaster-relief white paper on quake anniversary
1B. China targets early completion of post-quake rebuilding
2. China takes strict anti-flu steps following first confirmed A/H1N1 case
1. 1st Anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake
1A. China issues first disaster-relief white paper on quake anniversary
BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- China published a white paper Monday on disaster-prevention efforts to mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, as well as the nation's first "Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day", both of which fall on Tuesday.
The magnitude-8.0 quake, with the epicenter in Wenchuan of southwest China's Sichuan Province, left more than 87,000 people dead or missing and more than 374,640 injured.
The document, consisting of more than 16,000 Chinese characters, shed light on disaster-prevention work by the government and the public. It pointed out "With climate change, economic growth and urbanization, China faced increasing pressure on its resources and environment". "China's main tasks were to strengthen its ability to manage potential risks of natural disasters, to monitor and forecast natural disasters, to prevent them and conduct rescue and relief, "the report said.
"The country attaches great importance to institutionalizing disaster control work, such as issuing relevant laws and regulations, and it has developed a disaster control and response system in line with China's realities. The system included leadership from the State Council and central government departments as well as disaster control departments at different levels, while local governments bore the main responsibilities, " the document said.
Extended Reading
Full Text: China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/11/content_11351284.htm
1B. China targets early completion of post-quake rebuilding
BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China had invested 360 billion yuan (about 52.7 billion U.S. dollars) in post-earthquake reconstruction as of April, one-third of the planned total, and hoped to complete all work within two years.
According to Mu Hong, vice director of China's National Development and Reform Commission, most rebuilding of basic housing and infrastructure had begun and shown considerable progress.
The planned investment totaled about 1 trillion yuan and covered more than 200,000 projects. It included 300 billion yuan of direct investment from the central government, of which 154 billion yuan had been already gone into the rebuilding. The government planned to complete reconstruction before September 2010, after starting in September last year. The target was one year earlier than previously expected. With sufficient funding, reconstruction of essential infrastructure, such as railroads, highways and airports, was able to be completed and the facilities returned to service.
The government had tightened supervision of the use of reconstruction funds, and so far there had been no report of misuse, Mu said, stressing the government would also tighten supervision on construction quality.
The National Audit Office (NAO) had conducted audits of more than 1,500 projects as of March 31, covering nearly 50 billion yuan. There are about 1,600 auditors at construction sites in the quake-hit regions tracing fund use in reconstruction projects. They are required to cover above 60 percent of all the central funded and more than 80 percent of the total local government funded appropriations, according to NAO.
Extended Reading
Special Report: 1st Anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake
http://www.chinaview.cn/09wenchuan/index.htm
2. China takes strict anti-flu steps following first confirmed case
BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Monday called for enhanced vigilance and strict steps against the A/H1N1 influenza after the country's mainland reported its first case.
Hu ordered governments at all levels to spare no efforts to put all emergency response measures in place in order to curb further spread of the disease.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited the flu patient, medical staff and people under medical observation Monday in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province. Visiting the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Li said this first mainland case of the A/H1N1 influenza had been confirmed "in a very short period of time" after "instant diagnosis and consultation." He told staff to follow the case, promptly analyze the development of the disease, sum up experience and improve emergent measures so as to offer scientific backup to the flu's prevention and control.
After the A/H1N1 flu was found in some countries, the central government took emergency measures to ensure stability, he said. Further measures should be taken to "enhance entry-exit inspection and quarantine and step up technological preparation and material storage." He stressed that transparent prevention and control work was vital to ensure people's right-to-know and prevent panic.
The State Council held a meeting Monday to discuss further steps for the prevention of the disease. Officials at the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen, agreed that China faces a "complicated and grave" situation as the epidemic has yet been controlled globally and new cases kept emerging.
Strict quarantine will continue to be adopted for people, goods and vehicles entering its border from countries that have reported the A/H1N1 cases.
Epidemic monitoring and reporting systems will also be strengthened for early discovery, early reporting, and timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, if there is any, according to the meeting.
Relative links: www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/default.htm
www.chinaview.cn
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
