Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday called for unremitting efforts to push forward the rejuvenation of the country's northeast and other old industrial bases.

Great progress has been made in these regions since China launched the rejuvenation drive more than three years ago, Wen said at the fourth plenary meeting of the leading group of the State Council for revitalizing the northeast and other old industrial bases.

The drive has helped the regions to rely less on resources and heavy industry for economic growth and accelerated the construction of infrastructure, said the premier.

Wen, who also heads the leading group, urged the regions to develop modern agriculture and set up large processing firms for local farm produce and livestock and poultry.

He told the meeting that the government will allocate more money to fund water conservation projects in the northeast and gradually tackle the drought that plagues the country's west.

Wen also urged the regions to optimize the economic structure and speed up major transport and energy projects.

The regions should also establish and improve the assistance to declining industries.

The northeast is a major base of grain production, heavy industry and energy resources in China. Many cities in the region started to wane as their energy resources were depleted and heavy industries faced the burden of restructuring.

The regions should also strictly curb the growth of high-polluting energy and water guzzlers and eliminate outdated production facilities, the premier said.

He added they should vigorously develop new and renewable energy and give better environmental protection to major rivers, including the Songhua River, and the region's forests.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2007)