Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang urged the restoration of people's livelihood in the quake-hit regions during his visit in northwest China's Gansu Province between January 15 and January 17.

Some areas of Gansu were shattered by the devastating May 12 earthquake centered in Wenchuan of neighboring Sichuan Province last year.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) visits poor villager Liao Zhenxiang in Hedong Village of Longnan City, in northwest China's Gansu Province, on January 16, 2009. Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, made an inspection tour in Gansu Province from January 15 through 17. [Xinhua]

Efforts should be made to ensure that all people in the quake-hit regions had enough food to eat, had clothes to resist the cold and were well housed in the freezing winter, Li said when visiting quake-affected villagers.

More support should be given to speed up the building of permanent housing with a precondition that the quality must be guaranteed, he said.

"Housing construction can not only help quake-affected people restore life as soon as possible, but is also helpful to boost investment, consumption and economic growth," he said.

Villager Zhao Danlin (2nd L, front) displays his relief coupon to Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) in the Longtou Village of Longnan City, in northwest China's Gansu Province, on January 16, 2009. [Xinhua]

He also called for quicker restoration of public facilities, which would serve the economic and social development in the quake-hit regions.

During his visit in Longfeng Village, Li talked with some farmers who had returned because of employment difficulty in cities.

There were lots of job opportunities in the country, he said. "You can go to the interior region if it is hard to find a job in the coastal area; you can shift to work in the service sector as job opportunities are limited in the industrial sector; you can also start your own business at your hometown without going outside."

Li urged governments and departments concerned to provide more training and guidance to help rural workers get a job and guarantee a stable increase in employment.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2009)