Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing on Monday that China is confident and capable in achieving the final victory in combating disasters incurred by low temperature, ice and heavy snow.

Wen made the remarks at a seminar with more than 20 foreign experts who have been engaged in revolution and construction in China for a long time.

"At present, electricity supply is gradually resuming and transport services are basically back to normal, and the country's production and life are in normal conditions," Wen said.

He noted that it was achieved through arduous and coordinated efforts by residents and armed forces in the disaster-hit areas.

The worst winter disaster in five decades had hit 19 out of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the Chinese mainland. By Friday, more than 60 people had died in winter storm and nearly 1.76 million had been relocated in the past two weeks but the latest casualty figure are not yet available.

The Politburo of the Communist Party warned on Sunday that relief work would remain hard as weather conditions in southern China would remain severe.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)