(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-04 21:12

Chinese Premier Wen (R) Jiabao shakes hands with a foreign expert working in China in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Feburary 4, 2008. Wen said China is in confident and capable in winning the battle against the blizzard disasters now hitting a vast part of central, eastern and southern China. [Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Monday that China is confident and capable in achieving the final victory in combating disasters incurred by low temperature, ice and heavy snow.

Wen made the remarks at a seminar with more than 20 foreign experts who have been engaged in revolution and construction in China for a long time.

"At present, electricity supply is gradually resuming and transport services are basically back to normal, and the country's production and life are in normal conditions," Wen said.

He noted that it was achieved through arduous and coordinated efforts by residents and armed forces in the disaster-hit areas.

The worst winter disaster in five decades had hit 19 out of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the Chinese mainland. By Friday, more than 60 people had died in winter storm and nearly 1.76 million had been relocated in the past two weeks but the latest casualty figure are not yet available.

The Politburo of the Communist Party warned on Sunday that relief work would remain hard as weather conditions in southern China would remain severe.

Hu: Firm belief in victory over weather crisis

Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the public on Monday to hold the firm belief of victory over the weather crisis that is still plaguing the southern part of the country.

Hu also stressed that the public should not overlook the situation and task of the current relief work.

"We have to continue to put relief work as the top priority and carry it out in real earnest," Hu, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said during his meeting on Monday with non-CPC personalities.

"To ensure transportation, electricity supply and people's livelihood are current priorities in relief work," Hu added.

China's democratic parties, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personalities of non-party affiliation have played an important role in the relief work, he said.