Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is urging the State Council to discuss reconstruction along the flood-prone Huaihe River and step up harnessing efforts.   

Presiding over an executive meeting of the state council, Wen Jiabao stressed that harnessing the Huaihe River should be the keystone of the water conservancy projects.

He says the projects should include preventing water logging, drainage of the main river and its tributaries, and the relocation of people living in known disaster areas.

Wen Jiabao adds all of the main water conservancy projects on the river are expected to be accomplished by 2007.

(CRI October 20, 2003)