Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited Guizhou Province, southwest China, during the first day of Spring Festival, urging the local government to do more for the people.

During his stay in the province, Zhu extended the greetings to people of all ethnic groups in the province on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council and President Jiang Zemin.

Soon after arriving in the province yesterday afternoon, Zhu listened to working reports by local party and government officials. He set a high value on the achievements made by the province in recent years, and demanded that the province accelerate infrastructure construction, improve ecological environment, and do more for local people.

Guizhou is a province inhabited by many ethnic groups, and is also one of China's poorest areas. This is the third time for Zhu to visit the province in six years.

Accompanied by local officials today, the premier visited villages, factories and urban families to say happy new year to the local people.

Farmer Tang Dehua is of the Miao minority group, in his home the premier asked him about farming, living and children's school study. The Premier smiled with gratification when learning that Tang's family has enough food and clothes and had an income of more than 5,000 yuan last year.

The premier also visited families of laid-off workers and a local police station. (Xinhua)