CRI听力：Premier Wen Says Saving Lives Top Priority in Wake of Monday Quake

Saving lives is the top priority of work at this point of time, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said late Monday when directing rescue work of the major earthquake.

Wen has arrived in the City of Dujiangyan, about 100 kilometers from the epicenter Wenchuan County and organized a work meeting of a temporary headquarters for disaster relief headed by himself.

"Every single second could mean the life of a person trapped by the earthquake. The top priority of our work now is to save as many people as possible."

Premier Wen asked military personnel waiting in the city to enter the area as soon as possible even if they had to walk to Wenchuan.

Speaking as he flew to the area to oversee relief work, Wen Jiabao urged the local governments to make arrangements for people in the affected regions, including resuming major telecom and transport services so that social life can return to normal at an early date.

"Facing disaster, the most important thing is being calm, confident, courageous and have strong leadership. I believe we will definitely overcome this major disaster."

Chinese President Hu Jintao has also ordered all-out efforts to help those affected, and to rescue the injured as soon as possible, and to ensure the safety of people in the quake-hit areas.

At a high profile meeting on late Monday evening, Hu called on the army, armed police and paramilitary forces, as well as medical personnel to go to the quake-hit areas as soon as possible, and mount all-out efforts to save the injured and reduce the impact caused by the havoc. (Www.hxen.net)

The meeting demanded sufficient supply of food, medicine, clothes and tents to the quake-hit areas and that telecommunication, power and water supplies and transportation access must be restored as soon as possible.

Local governments are urged to keep a close watch on the latest development of the earthquake and its aftershocks, and guard against earthquake-induced disasters causing new casualties.

Those who spread rumors to sabotage disaster relief work would be dealt according to China's laws and regulations.