New standards planned

Wang also stressed that relevant departments were already considering tougher new quake-resistance standards for school buildings.

"A fundamental rule is that school buildings should have higher quake-resistance standards than normal buildings."

The official death toll from the May 12 quake stood at 68,516 as of 12 p.m. on Thursday. Another 365,399 people are reported injured and 19,350 missing, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

Guangzhou-based Nanfang Weekend contributed to this story.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2008)