国内英语新闻：China's top legislator visits SW province

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, visits a pasture during his investigation of local stockbreeding and eco-agriculture at Mengzhai Village of Qinglong County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 7, 2008. Wu made an inspection tour in Guizhou on May 6-9.

    GUIYANG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo made a visit to southwest China's Guizhou Province, during which he praised the snow-hit province's reconstruction progress, talked to farmers in the fields and gave directions on local development.

    During his visit from May 6 to 9, Wu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, urged both the government leaders in Guizhou and local people to work hard and promote sound and rapid economic and social development.

    Wu went to field ridges, vegetable greenhouses, coal mines and power plants, spent his time chatting with farmers and workers.

    Wu expressed his concerns over the disaster-hit areas, and asked relevant departments to see to the living conditions of those affected by the winter snow and harvest of the crops.

    He said transportation is one of the major issues that stagnate the development of the province and priority should be given to the development of transportation network.

    During his trip to Mengzhai village, 200 kilometers away from provincial capital Guiyang, Wu inspected local environmental-friendly projects.

    Wu said efforts should be made to increase farmers' income.

    He also stressed the importance of training more talents and bringing in more enterprises to enhance the vitality of local economy.

    To promote education and environmental-friendly projects is conducive to long-term sustainable development for Guizhou, said Wu.