国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier urges more support to less developed areas

GUIYANG, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has called for providing more support to the country's less developed regions, saying priority should be placed on improving the people's livelihood.

He made the remarks during an inspection tour to Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and Guiyang City in southwest China's Guizhou Province from Feb. 11 to 13, according to an official statement Xinhua received Sunday.

Li said more attention should be directed to improve people's living standards as China is making efforts to achieve its strategic goals of development.

During his tour, Li visited some residents' homes at a poor village in Libo County of Qiannan.

He called for greater efforts to improve people's livelihood, a step which would help boost domestic demand and facilitate the transformation of the nation's economic growth mode.

Li urged local authorities to work well on the safety of drinking water, road construction in rural areas, and the remodeling of old houses. In particular, schools should be made accessible for children from poor homes.

Further, he demanded greater efforts from local governments to improve the health care system that covers the three levels of county, township and village, and relieving the financial burden of the masses in health care services.

In Guiyang, Li inspected a local company in constructing affordable housing for low-income earners and visited poor homes in Yunyan district. He said greater efforts should be made in accelerating the supply of affordable housing for those in need.