"You still have kith and kin," said Premier Wen Jiabao to a 19-year old man who lost his parents and a brother in disastrous typhoon early this month. "Party and government leaders of all levels are your close relatives. All of us are your close relatives."

Wen told local officials to help the young man, Zhang Linfeng, with his life and employment. Zhang lives in Shangshan village, in Longxi township, Linhai city.

Last Friday and Saturday, the premier paid a passionate visit to some villagers in Zhejiang province, where Typhoon Rananim, the worst in 48 years, killed a total of 164 people, left 24 missing, injured more than 1,800, affected 13 million people, and incurred a direct financial loss of 18.1 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion US dollars).

"I saw it on TV, and now I've come to see you," said Premier Wen Jiabao, shaking hands with a 83-year old woman at Tuichuangou village.

Wen turned to Wu Xuedong, head of the village, and thanked the man who took the aged woman, on his back, out of the cracked house. Once they left the house, it tumbled.

During his visit, the premier conveyed the cordial regards and sympathy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council.

At Tuichuangou village, Wen asked Hong Xiufeng, a female villager whose house was damaged, if she had any difficulties with food and water supplies. "No problem," Hong replied. "We still have running water and the government has distributed food rice and cooking oil."

On Friday evening, Wen presided over a workshop to discuss ways to relieve local people from difficulties in life and production. He ordered local government to rebuild damaged infrastructure and homes as early as possible.

"You people should join hands to tide over difficulties, if there are any," said Wen, "The government will spare no means to assist you."

Official statistics show that the typhoon affected 75 counties with 765 townships and villages, mostly in Taizhou, Wenzhou and Ningbo cities, where 64,300 houses were flattened, 55,000 livestock were killed, and a large number of infrastructure facilities destroyed.

Source: Xinhua