Chinese premier visits northeastern old industrial cities

Wen stepped into workers' makeshift accommodation at the crude oil drilling field in Songyuan city, and also visited the kitchens. He praised the workers for their determination and their ability to put up with really tough conditions.

"Crude workers have made a great contribution to the state," said Wen, adding that he had made the trip especially to express his gratitude on behalf of the state and the Chinese people.

The premier then went to a village and talked to a dozen farmers to hear about their difficulties and improvements traceable to the government's new rural policies.

Wen made a specific stop at the People's Hospital of Jilin, a pilot hospital to test the rural cooperative medical care system. The medical reform was launched in 2003 to ease the burden of expensive medical services.

Wen said the system should be extended to over 80 percent of the countryside.

In Changchun, the capital of Jilin, Wen went to a teachers' university and a polytechnic college, where he chatted with students and pledged to further develop the country's educational system.

Wen's Jilin visit came just days after Chinese President Hu Jintao's inspection of the region. During his visit to companies, research institutes and villages, Hu urged local governments to seize the opportunity to rejuvenate the old industrial base and promote both social and economic development.