Chinese President Hu Jintao has underlined the need for Party committees and governments at all levels to fight SARS and foster local development on the basis of the "three represents" theory. During a four ­day visit to Sichuan province, Hu Jintao assessed SARS prevention measures as well as the state of the local economy.

From May 11 to 14, Hu Jintao visited Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and two other cities.

In Chengdu, the President said all Party and government officials must be fully responsible for the SARS campaign, and that any shunting of duties or negligence will not be allowed.

While visiting local state¡ê­owned enterprises and farms, Hu Jintao said he was happy to see that people there were getting on with life and maintaining production levels. He said that although the epidemic threat has negative impact on the economy, positive conditions for steady development still existed.

After being briefed by top Sichuan government officials, Hu urged all local leaders to persevere in the campaign against the epidemic as well as maintain the momentum of economic development.

"There are two key points in the current job we are doing. On the one hand, fighting SARS has to be handled in an effective way;on the other hand, the core of economic construction has to remain unchanged. Everybody should join in the campaign against the epidemic, and remove all barriers to our development. We should try our best to succeed in both areas," said Hu Jintao.

Hu Jintao said strengthening the Party's leadership is key to winning the campaign, and the current construction of the Party has to be related to winning the campaign against SARS, as well as sustaining a healthy economy.

Hu also urged relevant government organizations to make flexible policies to promote domestic and overseas market demand, as well as to minimize losses due to the SARS epidemic.

Editor: Liao Ming