国内英语新闻:Chinese Premier calls for improving migrant workers' living conditions in cities

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for improving the urban living conditions for migrant workers who left their rural hometowns and are significantly contributing to the country's urbanization.

Wen made the his remarks at the start of the three-day holiday for the Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival on Monday during his visit to a local community and a construction site on Beijing's line 6 subway.

Wen noted that government officials, as well as all members of society, should treat young migrant workers as their own children, adding that the migrant workers' contribution to the growth of the country's wealth and the building of urban skyscrapers should be respected, Wen said when meeting migrant workers at the subway construction site.

Additionally, Wen said that the government should work to resolve problems for migrant workers, such as marriage, housing and taking care of their children, and help them adapt to living in the cities where they are working.

Wen also proposed that local government and subway construction companies should increase recreational activities, such as sports games and Karaoke, for migrant workers to enjoy during their free time in the city.

At the same time, he encouraged young migrant workers to learn more practical skills and read more books so their leisure time would not be boring.

Further, the premier vowed to improve construction in rural areas by building more hospitals, schools and other public facilities so that migrant workers would have fewer worries in their hometowns.

Wen also visited a local children's welfare home where he met some 558 orphans. He praised the home's teachers for their hard work and the love they offered the children.

Premier Wen also visited a local market where he expressed his concern about the prices of vegetables and other foods.

The Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on Wednesday, is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate the life and death of romantic poet Qu Yuan (340 BC - 278 BC).