China's cabinet discusses post-quake reconstruction

BEIJING - The State Council, China's cabinet, on Wednesday urged concerted efforts and innovation in reconstruction following the deadly earthquake that jolted Sichuan province in April.

At an executive meeting presided over by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the cabinet decided to set up a mechanism to direct and coordinate post-quake reconstruction and initiate reconstruction "at an appropriate time."

About 797,000 affected local residents have been resettled so far, all schools have reopened, and production and life order in the quake zone have gradually been restored, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Relevant departments should carry out post-quake reconstruction planning and introduce relevant policies based on a scientific assessment of disaster conditions, it added.

Unremitting efforts should be made to guarantee the basic living conditions of all quake-affected residents in the transitional period and to ensure that those injured in the disaster continue to receive effective medical treatment, according to the statement.

To prevent new losses, precautionary efforts should be made against fire risks, epidemics and secondary geological disasters, the statement warned.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Lushan county in Southwest China's Sichuan province on April 20. The earthquake left at least 196 dead and affected an estimated 2 million others.