Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan urged Monday local governments to ensure that project owners pay their building contractors and, in turn, the contractors pay their workers.

Zeng said this while visiting the Ministry of Construction. During his visit, the vice premier heard a report on the issue by Minister Wang Guangtao, who said that the ministry has made great efforts and achievements in this regard.

Local governments have tried to deal with the issue, especially in the past month, to enable the rural laborers to return home with money for family reunion during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, the minister said.

In his speech, Zeng said that the issue has a bearing on the fundamental interests of the people as well as the general situation of macro-economic control and the country's economic development.

He urged all departments and localities involved to meet the goal set by the State Council to clear up all the delayed payments within three years.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2005)