Vice-Premier Wen Sends New Year's Greetings to South Pole Team 　　Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao sent on February 14 his New Year's greetings to members of China's 15th South Pole Exploration Team via satellite on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Chinese People. 　　Wen praised their successful exploits and said they have accomplished their task and have contributed to polar exploration through their strenuous efforts. 　　He further said that polar exploration by China represent the country's advance in power and science and technology and has increased her international exchanges and co-operation and her international status. 　　The team of explorers left for the South Pole in two groups on November 5 and December 10, 1998 and plans to return home late this month. They have traveled 1,100 km toward the polar ice cap, reaching the pole's highest part, and have drilled ice samples more than 600 year old. 　　The Chinese explorers also went up the Grove Mountains where they discovered four meteorites and had an anchorage found for their ships on the southeastern part of the pole. HomeNews 1999-02-15 Page4 Full Story in Chinese