BEIJING, March 5 -- Authorities must fully implement measures to combat terrorism and maintain public security and must crack down on violent and terrorist activities, governor of southwest China's Yunnan Province Li Jiheng said Wednesday.

"To show mercy to terrorists is to commit a crime against the people," Li said during a panel discussion to review a draft government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday morning.

A group of knife-wielding assailants slashed frantically at crowds at a train station in the Yunnan provincial capital Kunming late Saturday, killing 29 civilians and injuring 143.

Li said the attack had exposed flaws in the country's early warning and emergency response system against terrorism.

He said work to improve the early warning and emergency response system should be included in the government work report.