Southwest China's Sichuan Province said it would accelerate post-quake rebuilding in an effort to finish most of the work by September 2010, a year ahead of schedule.

The goal is to complete 85 percent of the reconstruction projects and ensure "housing and employment for each family," according to a provincial meeting for accelerating reconstruction held on Thursday.

The completion targets cover more than 90 percent of transport projects, 98 percent of power grids and 99 percent of public service projects such as medical care.

The meeting said 85 percent of the rebuilding work in worst-hit areas, and all work except for some major projects in less-affected areas, would be completed by September 2010.

Reconstruction of rural housing will be completed at the end of this year, with that in townships and cities to be finished before May 2010.

Students who now attend classes in temporary building are to be back in permanent structures by next spring.

The magnitude-8.0 quake that hit southwest China, centered in Wenchuan, Sichuan, on May 12 last year, killed more than 69,000 people. It also left nearly 18,000 missing, more than 374,000 injured and millions homeless.

The Sichuan government estimated post-quake rebuilding will cost about 1.6 trillion yuan (US$235 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2009)