China's Hu urges faster rebuilding in quake zone

BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged quicker reconstruction in quake-hit areas of southwest China, as millions of people face a bleak winter living in tents and temporary housing, state media reported on Tuesday.

The May 12 Sichuan earthquake killed more than 80,000 people, flattening wide swathes of southwest China and leaving millions of people homeless.

The onset of winter has added to the miseries of survivors and local governments have warned that quilts, clothing and even food, in some regions, remain scarce.

The reconstruction effort is a central plank of the government's 4 trillion yuan ($584.4 billion) stimulus plan for the ailing economy and authorities have pledged to bring the region's shattered economy back to pre-quake levels within three years.

Hu, in his first visit to quake-hit areas of Sichuan province since May 16, visited survivors, factories and clinics in several battered counties over the weekend and on Monday, Xinhua news agency said.

"The most important thing is to make sure all people are housed, have clothes and quilts to resist the cold, have enough food for the winter and coming spring and medical service and epidemic prevention are in place," the agency quoted Hu as saying.

Hu also asked workers rebuilding a school in quake-ravaged Beichuan county "to ensure the quality of the buildings and make them safe and solid", Xinhua said.

Thousands of children died under collapsed school buildings during the quake, a huge controversy as many surrounding buildings withstood the tremors.

China has put a blanket ban on media coverage of the collapsed schools and detained aggrieved parents who have tried to seek redress or sue authorities.