Chinese President Hu Jintao visited quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province Sunday, vowing to help victims rebuild their homes as most of them now settle in tents with basic needs met.

The 7.1-magnitude quake, which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu Wednesday morning, had left at least 1,706 dead, 256 missing and 12,128 injured, as of 10:00 AM Sunday.

In a morale-raising visit to quake-hit Yushu, Hu assured locals of new homes and schools and steadfast relief work.

"There will be new schools! There will be new homes!" Hu wrote in chalk on a blackboard in a makeshift classroom in a tent of orphaned students.

The president led the students in reading aloud the words he wrote on the blackboard.

The Yushu School for Orphans visited by Hu was the first one to resume classes. A total of 60 primary and middle school students and more than 10 teachers sang the national anthem before classes began at 3:30 PM Saturday.

The president also talked to an injured Tibetan man in a medical tent.

"The Party and the government care about all the victims of the quake. Doctors will give you meticulous treatment...The party and the government will help with a new home...You should have confidence and recover," Hu said as he held the injured man's hands.

The Tibetan man replied, "Thank you, General Secretary. Tashi Delek!" (Tashi Delek means good luck in Tibetan)

Hu's plane landed at Yushu's Batang Airport Sunday morning after an over-three-hour flight from Beijing.

The president, who returned to China Saturday from a shortened visit to Latin America, headed for worst-hit Gyegu Town in Yushu immediately after landing.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2010)