CHINA: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vows to improve rail safety during visit to the site of a high-speed train crash that killed at least 39
Record ID:
382102
CHINA: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vows to improve rail safety during visit to the site of a high-speed train crash that killed at least 39
- Title: CHINA: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vows to improve rail safety during visit to the site of a high-speed train crash that killed at least 39
- Date: 29th July 2011
- Summary: WENZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 28, 2011) (REUTERS) SITE OF TRAIN CRASH CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO HOLDING WREATH AND BOWING PEOPLE LOOKING WEN WALKING TOWARDS MICROPHONE STAND (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO, SAYING: "This (train crash) has led us to clearly understand that building and development is all for the sake of the people. And the most important thing is the safety of peoples' lives. OFFICIALS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO, SAYING: "The society and the public had many questions about the cause of the accident and the way it was handled. I believe that we should earnestly listen to the public's views, treat them seriously and provide the public with a responsible explanation." OFFICIALS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO, SAYING: "I believe the relevant authorities will earnestly remember the lessons learnt from this accident and improve their work from all aspects. This is especially so for breakthrough technologies. We have to better our management so that China's high-speed rail can truly be safe, so that China's high speed rail can stand its own in the world and be trusted." VARIOUS OF WEN AND OFFICIALS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 13th August 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China, China
- Country: China
- Topics: Accidents,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVAULKY3Z12ZRDX7OHV3YHDG4H0
- Story Text: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday (July 28) promised to pursue the culpability for a train collision that killed at least 39 people.
He also called for the improvement of China's rail safety amid the country's push for high-speed rail development, as Beijing tries to quell public anger over its handling of the train crash.
China's Xinhua news agency said the crash occurred when a train rammed into another stalled train on Saturday (July 23).
Wen laid a floral wreath for the dead and bowed at the accident site in eastern Zhejiang province.
"This (train crash) has led us to clearly understand that building and development is all for the sake of the people. And the most important thing is the safety of peoples' lives," he said.
China's ruling Communist Party leaders rarely give press conferences, and Wen said he believed the government should treat the people's concerns seriously.
"Society and the public had many questions about the cause of the accident and the way it was handled. I believe that we should earnestly listen to the public's views, treat them seriously and provide the public with a responsible explanation," he said.
Even before the investigation into the cause of the crash was complete, Beijing on Sunday sacked three middle-level railway officials.
Xinhua quoted railway authorities saying that a signal that should have turned red stayed green and rail staff then failed to see something was amiss.
The Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signals and Communications issued an apology, acknowledging that it was the source of the deadly flaw.
Wen also called for an improvement in railway management and safety.
"I believe the relevant authorities will earnestly remember the lessons learnt from this accident and improve their work from all aspects. This is especially so for breakthrough technologies. We have to better our management so that China's high-speed rail can truly be safe, so that China's high speed rail can stand its own in the world and be trusted," he said.
As Wen left, journalists from the crowd shouted out for officials from the Ministry of Railways to answer questions, a rare show of open demand for accountability at such a high-profile event.
The train crash, in which nearly 200 people were injured, was China's worst rail accident since 2008.
The Railway Ministry is still investigating the cause of the accident, and has ordered a two-month safety review of railway operations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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