Wen: Quake-stricken provinces recovering

LANZHOU, China, June 22 (UPI) -- Reconstruction in China's Shaanxi and Gansu provinces has begun and should be completed by 2010, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday.

The state council official said he was hopeful life in the two provinces, both devastated by May 12 earthquake that struck China, can return to normal by the end of the summer, Xinhua reported.

"I hope that life of the quake-affected people in Shaanxi and Gansu can be basically restored in two months from now, while reconstruction in the two provinces can be completed in two years," Wen said.

The premier said the reconstruction must be completed in a safe and economical manner, especially in terms of schools and hospitals in the region, China's official state-run news agency reported.

Xinhua said Wen and State Councilor Ma Kai visited Shaanxi province Friday to see the extent of the quake damage, which had been blamed for 69,181 deaths as of Saturday.