WENZHOU - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised the investigation into the fatal train crash will offer a result that could "stand the test of history".

Wen made the remarks while speaking to press at the site of the deadly train crash near Wenzhou of eastern Zhejiang Province.

Premier Wen Jiabao at a news conference in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Design flaws in the railway signal equipment led to Saturday's fatal high-speed train collision near Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, the Shanghai railway bureau said on Thursday.

The Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signals and Communication which developed the equipment apologized for the flaw in a letter on its website, promising to cooperate in investigations, take responsibility and shoulder any due punishments.

After being struck by lightning, the signal system at the Wenzhou South Railway Station failed to turn one of its green lights to red, which caused the rear-end collision, said An Lusheng, head of the Shanghai Railway Bureau, at an investigatory meeting held by the State Council, or China's cabinet, in Wenzhou.

The State Council has set up an independent investigation panel, which includes authorities from the security, supervision and judiciary departments, Wen said.

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He said the investigation will be "open, transparent" and "under public supervision."  "We shall carefully listen to public opinions and reach a responsible result," Wen said.

China will severely punish those who are responsible for the fatal train collision, Premier Wen said. "We will severely punish those who are responsible for the accident and those who hold responsibilities of leadership in accordance with the country's laws," Wen told the press.

He stressed that the government's top priority is to "protect people's life."

"The country's development is for the people, so the most important thing is people's life."

The premier pledged to offer timely and accurate information on follow-up situations to the public after Saturday's fatal train collision.

Only by disclosing the truth to the public could the accident be handled successfully, he said.

He also urged the Ministry of Railways (MOR) to give an "honest answer" to the people on the way it had handled the aftermath of a fatal train crash.

"I called the minister of railways soon after the crash happened, and what I said to him was just two words -- 'save people'," said Wen after mourning victims and expressing condolences to the relatives of the dead.

"I believe the top principle in handling accidents is to save the victims by all means," said Wen.

"The Ministry of Railways should give an honest answer to the people as to whether it has conformed with this principle in dealing with the collision," said Wen.

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Wen said that safety is a top priority in China's high-speed railway technology export.

"The high-speed railway construction of China should integrate speed, quality, efficiency and safety. And safety should be put in the first place," said Wen.

Wen noted that scientific planning, reasonable designing and orderly development are principles for the country's future railway construction.

The construction should not put sole emphasis on the speed, but should integrate it with quality, efficiency and safety, with the safety always the first priority, Wen said.

Wen urged nation to work harder to develop technologies that are "more secure and reliable."

The nation should brace up to develop technological brands with China's own intellectual property rights and products with international competitiveness.

He said that was "a lesson to be learned" from the accident that left 39 people dead and 192 others injured last Saturday.

Wen said he was "confident in the China's future, no matter in its development, construction, technology or education."