He urged employees to continue working to build the company into a more advanced, secure and sustainable organization.

The premier also visited a road repair site near the epicenter, Yingxiu, praising the soldiers and workers who braved aftershocks and landslides to keep the road clear after the quake.

The worst-hit Beichuan County must be relocated as it was severely damaged in the quake and the original site might be vulnerable. Wen again visited the debris where the county seat was once located. He trudged on foot for an hour through the debris with a heavy heart.

He laid a wreath at a mass burial site of quake victims and observed a one-minute silent mourning period together with his entourage.

He told survivor Wang Dan, a 26-year-old woman of Qiang ethnic group, that the pain was overwhelming but the Beichuan people were strong.

"Although half of the population perished, the other half -- the survivors -- will build a new Beichuan with hope," he said.

When invited by Wang to come again when the new Beichuan is built, Wen promised he would come to the place, which he would remember for life.

He told local officials that the county should be rebuilt not only materially but also spiritually, as its unique Qiang culture should be preserved and promoted.

Presiding over a meeting attended by Sichuan provincial-level officials on Tuesday night, Wen said the quake rescue and relief work had entered an important phase of reconstruction. He urged local governments to seriously implement the reconstruction plan approved by the State Council, the country's Cabinet, and lead local people to accomplish the major tasks of rehabilitation and reconstruction in three years.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2008)