Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao said early Friday that the country has reduced the loss of lives to the greatest extent possible with its speedy relief efforts, and saving lives is still the top priority more than 3 days after the quake struck.

He said in an interview with Chinese media on a train that China's relief work in the past days was "orderly, forceful and effective" in face of "the biggest natural disaster since New China was founded in 1949."

He said "it is still within the critical period of saving lives, and we won't give up even if there exists the slightest hope of finding more survivors."

China has rapidly deployed a large number of rescuers and medical workers for immediate rescue and treatment hours after the quake, he said.

The premier vowed "to pour out whatever the country is capable of to combat the disaster."

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)