A senior Chinese official on Monday called for greater motivational publicity efforts to inspire the public in the rebuilding of southwest China's May 12 quake zone.

Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remark during an inspection tour of Sichuan Province, the epicenter of the magnitude-8 earthquake.

The relief work, the Beijing Olympics and the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft were historic events that had left the Chinese people with a rich spiritual legacy, he said.

More focus should be given to the lofty spirit displayed during these events, he said. This would boost public spirits in the rebuilding process.

He called on local publicity and cultural departments and media to enhance promotion of the decisions, deployments and policies of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on quake relief and rebuilding. More coverage was needed of measures and progress by local Party committees and governments in helping Sichuan's rebuilding, he said.

He also underscored the importance of restoring and rebuilding cultural heritage sites and facilities in the region.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2008)