In the past five consecutive years, it has been a common sight for China's top leaders to visit ordinary Chinese on Lunar New Year's eve. This year was no exception.

Amid China's worst weather disaster for decades, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao both spent the most important holiday in disaster-hit regions, directing relief work and greeting people being affected.

Hu was in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday and Wednesday. "Lunar New Year's eve" was his favorite topic throughout the trip.

Shaking hands with road repair workers en route to Ziyuan, a county without electricity and telecommunication service due to severe snow, Hu said he appreciated their work on this special day.

As he came across an army transportation squad later Wednesday, he asked them to deliver relief supplies to those in need in time for them to have a better holiday.

At a farmer's house, Hu said to the family: "We were very concerned for you when we were in Beijing."

He told officials in company that current priorities were to have people's livelihood well arranged.

Officials should make sure that local people had enough food, clothes and quilts, and when they were sick they would be timely treated, Hu ordered.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)