国内英语新闻:Chinese President calls for all-out efforts to combat drought

BAODING, Feb. 2, (Xinhua) -- All-out efforts should be made to combat drought for a summer grain harvest, said Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday in an inspection tour to north China's Hebei Province.

"We need to adopt comprehensive measures to ensure supply of capital, technologies, facilities and materials to enable winter wheat to safely grow through the winter," said Hu, when inspecting drought conditions at a wheat field in Xishanbei Township of Baoding City, Hebei.

Over the past three months, North China has been hit by severe drought, seriously threatening normal agricultural production.

Hu, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the inspection visit in Baoding from Tuesday to Wednesday, to welcome the Spring Festival, or China's Lunar New Year, with local officials and residents.

Hu beat a drum together with villagers during a new year celebration in Shijiatong Village, Xishanbei Township of Baoding.

The president visited the home of Yan Deshu, an aged CPC member in the village, and pasted the Chinese character "Fu", meaning fortune and happiness, on the gate of Yan's yard.

Hu also visited a long-distance coach station in Baoding, and extended Spring Festival greetings to passengers, station workers and volunteers.

Hu inspected a unit of armed police in Baoding and made Chinese dumplings together with the officers and soldiers.