Since 10th January 2008, an unexpected severe snowstorm hit South and North-west China, which has lasted for more than three weeks. Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanxi are among the provinces affected. Direct economic loss has reached 53.8billion RMB ($7.5 billion).

Highways and Railways iced and closed, huge amount of passengers were stranded in roads and major bus, railway stations. Airports were partially closed and flights were seriously delayed in the aforesaid provinces. In this season, Chinese people are supposed to travel back home to celebrate the most important traditional festival and a grand festival for family reunion, the lunar New Year on 7 February. In Guangzhou Railway station, the stranded passengers once amounted up to half a million.

Electricity transmitting facilities damaged seriously by heavy snow and ice, water pipes cracked by chilling weather, power and water supply were interrupted in some provinces. Tens of thousands of mobile communication stations failed to function for lack of power supply.

Hampered by the abominable whether, the rescue efforts were arduous and slowly progressed.

South China used to be warm in winter, and there are no preparation and facility for the sudden chilling weather. The living situation in the snowstorm stricken area now is very critical.

The Chinese government attached great importance to the relief operation, for which the government has appropriated special funds. President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders went to the affected areas and supervised the relief operation. The State Council set up an Emergency Headquarter for coordinating operations in various fields, fighting main problems of coal production, electricity, oil supply and transportation, etc. The relevant government departments including development and reform, railway, communications, public security, information technology, commerce, and power regulatory authorities, are working vigorously and in an orderly fashion.

The local officials and people struggled to recover normal coal production, power supply and transportation, directed the rescue work at key places such as train stations, high ways and power centers. The power supply to the industries was temporarily restrained for safeguarding the people's life and normal operation of some key departments.

The People's Liberation Army and Armed Police assigned 250,000 officers and soldiers to clean the street, deliver goods, evacuate stranded people, rescue the people in difficulty and help to sustain social order.

At present, the emergency and disaster relief is still underway. Transportation situation has been improved. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and most of the airports in the country restarted to operate normally. Parts of the damaged electric circuitry have been repaired. The working and life of the people in the storm-hit areas are getting back to normal gradually.

China is a vast country and has lots of experience dealing with natural disasters like flood, earthquake, storm, and etc. And Chinese people have developed the virtue of mutual help. During this snowstorm people from other parts of China and Overseas made donation for the relief operation. We are confident that under the strong leadership of the Chinese government and the asserted efforts of all Chinese people, China will surely overcome this major natural disaster and maintain its economic development momentum. And the snowstorm will not disrupt the Olympic Games and other major events on schedule.