Premier Wen Jiaobao said early on Friday that China has reduced the death toll from Monday's earthquake to the greatest extent possible with speedy relief efforts, and saving lives remained the top priority almost four days after the quake.

"It is still within the critical period for saving lives, and we won't give up if there is even the slightest hope of finding more survivors," he said in an interview with Chinese media on a train.

Relief work had been "orderly, forceful and effective" in the face of "the biggest and most destructive natural disaster since new China was founded in 1949," the premier said.

Hours after the quake, China rapidly deployed a large number of rescue and medical workers for immediate rescue and treatment, he said. The quick response had helped reduce casualties to the greatest extent, he said.

The premier vowed "to pour out whatever the country is capable of" to combat the massive disaster and fight till the end.

To move forward with relief work, the country needs confidence, resolution, perseverance and forceful organization work, he said.

"We believe that so long as we rely on the people, the military and the civilians unite together, the officials and the general public unite together, and together we stand, we will surely win this anti-quake battle," Wen stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)