Chinese vice-premier Hui Liangyu said the country aims to finish primary post-quake reconstruction work in the quake hit areas within three years.

And the Chinese government will stick to its policy of the "people first" when implementing relief and reconstruction work.

Our reporter Chen Xi has the details.

Vice-premier Hui Liangyu, who is also the deputy head of the State Council's earthquake relief headquarters, said the Chinese government took saving people's lives as its primary objective during quake relief efforts. To date, more than 840,000 people have been saved in quake-hit areas.

Hui emphasized the reconstruction work is an urgent, long-term task. He stressed that the rebuilding efforts would be done in a scientific way, ensuring high quality and resistance to future disasters.

During the process, the vice premier said the people should be put at centre of the work.

"We should stick to the 'people first' policy. Our goal is to provide quake victims with good public facilities and help them resume their normal lives. We should also take care not to harm the environment while carrying out reconstruction work."

It has been one and half month since the 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck southwest China. The vice-premier said the quake relief work is entering a new stage with its focus on rebuilding homes, preventing epidemics, restoring infrastructure and resuming economic production.

Hui Liangyu said we should be mindful of certain factors while rebuilding quake-hit areas.

"We should use land in a scientific manner, we should protect arable land. We should continue to make every effort to care for the injured. We also have to take steps to increase the income of quake victims."

The Chinese official said the State Council has also come up with a guide book to aid reconstruction work. It will feature ten key steps such as rebuilding of local infrastructure and industries, protecting cultural relics, and a scientific use of land resources.

Chen Xi, CRI news.