Top legislator Wu Bangguo has asked local authorities in quake-ravaged areas to step up efforts to prevent epidemics and secondary disasters and to resettle survivors.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during his tour of the southwest China's Sichuan Province from May 26-28.

He urged relevant agencies to mobilize epidemic prevention resources, forward adequate drugs, carry out scientific prevention measures and establish full-scale prevention systems.

The most pressing current problem was temporary housing for some 3.5 million households, said Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He stressed overall planning during re-settlement, saying that the relationship between temporary housing and long-term residence must be handled appropriately.

Relevant authorities must ensure that people in temporary shelter would be able to spend the winter there and should also strive to minimize resettlement times.

During his tour, Wu visited hard-hit locations including Dujiangyan, Yingxiu, Hanwang and Pingtong. He expressed sympathy and solicitude for people affected by the devastating 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12 as he toured hospitals, factories and schools.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)