Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday that the government's top priority is to "protect people's life."

"The country's development is for the people, so the most important thing is people's life," said Wen when meeting reporters at the scene of a fatal train crash last Saturday.

"The high-speed railway construction of China should integrate speed, quality, efficiency and safety. And safety should be put in the first place," said Wen.

He said he had been ill for 11 days and the doctor did not let him out, but "I must come here."

"We will severely punish those who are responsible for the accident and those who hold responsibilities of leadership in accordance with the country's laws," Wen told the press.

Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Wenzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province Thursday morning to mourn victims of a fatal train collision.

The accident on Saturday evening caused at least 39 people dead and 192 others injured.