Reconstruction plans for quake-hit Yushu county in Qinghai province will soon be presented to the State Council for approval. Efforts will shift from rescue and relief work to the building of new homes for victims displaced by the April 14 disaster.

If saving lives and helping victims test the government's capability to deal with emergencies, what will be needed in the road ahead are sensible planning, visionary policies and the efficient use of funds and materials in efforts to build new homes for Yushu's residents.

Reconstruction planners will have to consider every possibility that could jeopardize their work. The location of new buildings must be carefully chosen and their quality must be guaranteed so that they can resist strong earthquakes. The style of the structures must be in line with local Tibetan characteristics so that they can match the culture and tradition.

Rebuilding the county into an eco-friendly attraction and business destination will help a fragile local ecology that cannot afford major industries. The ecological balance must be maintained well to protect the sources of the country's major rivers within its borders.

The relevant policies must also ensure that the new homes are designed with vision. They should be energy-saving and environmentally friendly. They must be comfortable to live in.

A supervisory mechanism must be in place to guarantee that homes for residents, government office buildings and other infrastructure in the area are of sound quality. Supervision must be carefully carried out so that funds for rebuilding efforts will be spent in a transparent manner.

The ongoing reconstruction of Wenchuan county in Sichuan province, which was also hit by a deadly quake about two years ago, hopefully serves as a model for Yushu.