Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China Chinese President Hu Jintao (Front L 2nd) talks to the employees of a tent factory in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on May 22, 2008. Hu Jintao visited two tent manufacturers in east China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, urging them to produce as many as possible to meet the needs of the quake survivors. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao visited two tent manufacturers in east China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, urging them to produce as many as possible to meet needs of the quake survivors. Since the massive earthquake destroyed many houses, and reconstruction would take time, tents would become makeshift shelters for homeless people in these regions. The government said it needs some 3 million tents to house the nearly 5 million people displaced by the massive May 12 earthquake in southwestern Sichuan province. Many outdoor travel products and supplies companies have been enlisted to manufacture tents. Hu visited two manufacturers in Zhejiang and urged them to ensure the quality of their products while speeding up production. "We still face the arduous task of rescue and relief and we especially need lots of tents to accommodate homeless people," he said. "To produce more tents will be the greatest care shown to survivors and the greatest contribution to the rescue and relief." Considering the frequent rain in the quake-hit regions, Hu went to the workshop for waterproof testing and reminded workers to ensure the quality of their product to enable quake survivors have safe, durable tents. Upon hearing that many workers came from the quake region, he asked if they had been able to contact their families. "I just came back from Sichuan and tents are extremely needed there. Every tent you produce can help several townsmen of yours," he said. After touring the two companies, Hu held a meeting with local officials and heard a report on tent production by local officialsand company heads. He asked local officials to fulfill their obligations and ensure the good quality and timely delivery of tents. China reiterates urgent need for tents in quake-hit areas Photo taken on May 13, 2008 shows quake survivors rest in a tent in the quake-hit Juyuan Town of Dujiangyan in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday again called on international community to provide tents first among relief donations to its quake-hit Sichuan Province, saying approximately 3.3 million tents are needed. So far 400,000 tents have been transported to the quake-hit areas, which were far from enough, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conference. Full story China to build 1 mln temporary homes for quake victims BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said Thursday that it had requested local authorities in earthquake-hit areas to build 1 million temporary homes by Aug. 10 to accommodate quake victims of the May 12 earthquake. A circular issued by the ministry said the transitional homes should be either assembled with steel sandwich panels or made of light-weight steel and plywood kit sets. Full story President Hu orders rescuers to reach every quake-hit village by "every available means" Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) comforts a baby at a relief center in Shifang city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 18, 2008. President Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), arrived in Shifang City to console the victims and rescuers on Sunday morning.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> SHIFANG, Sichuan, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday asked rescuers to use "every available means" to reach every village affected by the May 12 earthquake in southwest China. "We must try every method to send rescuers to every quake-hit village, instead of just working in towns and cities, since a large number of soldiers have entered the quake-hit regions," said Hu, while visiting Yinghua township of Shifang city, Sichuan Province. Full story Chinese President in Shifang to oversee quake relief SHIFANG, Sichuan, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Shifang City, Sichuan Province, Sunday morning to oversee rescue operations. Hu Jintao arrived in southwestern Sichuan Province Friday morning. He had visited several other places in the province, including Beichuan and Wenchuan, before arriving in Shifang. Full story President Hu renews call to save lives in remote villages CHENGDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday urged rescue teams to reach remote villages that were battered by the strong earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan Province as soon as possible. Touring Wenchuan County, epicenter of Monday's 7.8-magnitude quake, Hu arrived at Xuankou, one of the three most severely damaged towns in the county, on Saturday morning. Full story Chinese President heads for Pengzhou City to inspect relief work Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with a military officer when he inspects disaster relief work in the quake-hit Xuankou Town of Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Photo Gallery>>> CHENGDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao headed for quake-hit Pengzhou city of southwestern Sichuan Province Saturday afternoon to inspect disaster relief work. Full story President Hu heads for epicenter to direct disaster-relief work BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao headed for Wenchuan County at the epicenter of the Sichuan earthquake by road on Saturday morning, to direct the rescue and relief work there. Full story Chinese president flies to quake-hit Sichuan Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L) discusses with officials the quake relief work during his flight to the disaster area in southwest China's Sichuan Province May 16, 2008. President Hu flew to quake-hit southwestern Sichuan Province Friday morning to console the victims and inspect the rescue and relief work. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao flew to quake-hit southwestern Sichuan Province Friday morning to console the victims and inspect the rescue and relief work. Hu will also visit the troops and medical workers who are engaged in around-the-clock relief efforts in the quake areas. Full story