Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd R) visits Wang Fangfang (1st L), a woman of Tibetan ethnic group, at a makeshift tent in a middle school serving as a relocation center in landslide-hit Zhouqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province, August 21, 2010. Wen made an inspection tour in Zhouqu on August 21-22. [Xinhua]

Wen said in order to rebuild the region in a scientific manner, disaster assessment should be done in the first place. He ordered an assessment of the death toll and damage to the infrastructure and buildings, the results of which would be made public.

Wen ordered to give priority to building apartments for the survivors. He said flats which could be repaired should be fixed by the end of this year, so that more people could return home by winter.

Wen stressed that the reconstruction should take into account the environment and absolutely avoid locations with geographical disaster hazard.

Wen also ordered efforts to protect the ecological environment along Bailong river. He said more efforts should go into replacing arable land with forests, banning logging in certain areas and preventing water erosion.

Wen also urged to form a lasting mechanism to guard against further geological disasters.

Wen said reconstruction would mainly be funded by the central government, supported by social donations and bank loans. Government at all levels in the mudslide-hit areas should closely monitor the raising, distribution, and use of funds, and welcome public supervision.