A senior Chinese official has called for better and faster economic and social reconstruction in southwest China's Sichuan Province which was jolted by a devastating earthquake last May.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged local officials to take more effective measures to speed up rebuilding quake survivors' homes during his visit to the province from Tuesday to Saturday.

Accompanied by the provincial Party chief Liu Qibao and governor Jiang Jufeng, Li went to settlements established for the quake homeless, schools and communities in the province.

During Li's visit to factories severely damaged by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12, the official stressed improving the ability of independent innovation.

Li met citizens and farmers in Mianyang, Deyang and Aba Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan and Qiang nationalities.

The official also paid a visit to the site of the earthquake's epicenter Beichuan county.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2009)