Leaders extend festival greetings
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-01 08:35

President Hu Jintao celebrated the Spring Festival with people in the revolutionary base of Yan'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Premier Wen Jiabao spent it at the Zhongyuan Oil Field in East China's Shandong Province.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R) talks with armed police in Yan'an, a revolutionary base in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua]

On Sunday morning, the first day of the Lunar New Year, Hu inspected the power supply bureau in Yan'an, extending festival greetings to all the workers on duty, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Hu asked them to ensure an adequate electricity supply during the holiday period, which will end on February 12.

The president also inspected the local armed police force and asked the soldiers to convey his season's greetings to their families. Sun Zhensheng, a soldier who was on duty 100 kilometres away, was excited and thanked Hu on the phone when he received the president's call.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) expresses his New Year greetings to local people in Hougoumen Village of Yanhewan Town in Ansai County.[Xinhua]

On the hillsides in Yanhewan town of Ansai County, Hu was pleased to see a wide range of newly planted trees. "We should plant more trees and make the hills in Yan'an greener and people more affluent," Hu told local officials. He asked the local government to help farmers obtain capital and technology when he inspected organic vegetable fields.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Wen visited the No 65 well in the Zhongyuan Oil Field in Dongming County and celebrated the festival with oil workers.

Wen extended festival greetings to the oil workers and gave his approval to all the people working in the oil industry.

(China Daily 02/01/2006 page1)