'We'll Eventually Overcome the Disaster of SARS': Premier

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 27, 2003

'We'll Eventually Overcome the Disaster of SARS': Premier

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Inspects Commodity Supply, SARS Prevention

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday vowed to eventually defeat the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and expressed his belief that the nation will emerge from the disaster "stronger than ever".

Wen made the remarks at the end of his visit to prestigious Beijing University.

The premier arrived at the university at 11 a.m. (Beijing Time) after touring a construction site, supermarket and residential zone. His visit came at time when the nation was hit by the fatal SARS disease.

The reported SARS cases on the Chinese mainland totaled 2,573 by 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Of the total, 1,285 patients had been discharged from hospitals upon recovery and 122 had died.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Inspects Commodity Supply, SARS Prevention

The disease has been causing growing economic losses to the country.

Wen visited a dormitory for overseas students of Beijing University, where he chatted with students from Indonesia, the United States, Sweden and other countries.

"The Chinese government is concerned about the health of overseas students and experts in China, and will offer medical help to foreigners in China to protect their health, and provide all necessary conveniences," he said.

He reminded them to open windows for fresh air, take physical exercise, and keep in touch with their family regularly.

The premier also visited two rooms at a dormitory, where he talked with Chinese medical majors, saying he was moved by on-line messages sent by college students on their determination to fight SARS.

The premier later came to a canteen at the university for lunch, where he and some students ate on a long makeshift table.

Ruan Cao, a junior student, told Wen that he and other students were very moved by the famous quote Wen used last month at his first press conference as premier.

At the conference, Wen recited the mantra of Lin Zexu, a patriotic official of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911):"I will do whatever it takes to serve my country even at the cost of my own life, regardless of fortune or misfortune to myself."

"Realizing the heavy responsibility on me, I'm putting the words into practice every day," the premier told the students.

"Confronting such a difficulty as SARS, we should blame nobody and take up the challenge," said the premier.

A series of measures have been taken by the central government for the past month. Government departments at various levels and hospitals have been mobilized.

Last week, the central government created powerful National SARS Prevention and Control Headquarters and set up a national fund of two billion yuan (243 million US dollars) for prevention and control of the disease.

Vice-Premier Wu Yi was appointed as minister of health Saturday in a rare move to coordinate national efforts to beat SARS, which was described by the media as a war without smoke of gunpowder.

"We'll eventually overcome the disaster of SARS, and push forward the reform and opening up, and modernization so long as the people of the country are united as one in overcoming the difficulty," Wen said to the students of Beijing university.

"I believe the Chinese people will be even more united, and the Chinese nation will emerge from the SARS disaster stronger than ever," the premier said.

Among those accompanying the premier during the visit were Vice-Premier Wu Yi and State Councilor Chen Zhili.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese Premier Sets Out 10 Tasks in Fight Against SARS

Chinese Government Outlines Seven Anti-SARS Measures

Chinese Premier Pledges to Improve SARS Control

>> Full Coverage

China to Send Lunar-Probe Satellite in 3 Years: Expert ( 2 Messages)

Analysis: Germany Softening Anti-War Tone as It Enters UN Security Council ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Premier Pledges to Improve SARS Control ( 2 Messages)

China Launches First "Indigenous" Management Theory ( 9 Messages)

China Protects Safety of People from Overseas ( 3 Messages)