Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao praised the construction achievements of the Three Gorges Project in the past decade, calling on further efforts in the next phase tasks.
Wen spoke during the 12th plenary session of the State Council Three Gorges Project Construction Committee held here on Thursday.
As the world's largest hydropower project, Three Gorges Project might influence the nation's future progress, and thus needed responsible attitudes, high standards, high qualities and high efficiency, Wen said.
The session passed the opinions of the expert panel, which had made careful checks over the reservoir and ship lock from May 13 to 21, and approved water storage beginning on June 1, navigation trials from June 16 and power generation in August.
"These achievements mark a new stage for China's economic strength and engineering technologies," Wen said.
The operation in August of two power generating units, each with a capacity of 700,000 kilowatts, will indicate the completion of the project's second phase and start of the third phase.
Wen said the third phase would still involve many strenuous tasks, such as the relocation of another 400,000 reservoir residents as well as control over geological disasters and water pollution.
(Xinhua News Agency May 30 2003)
