Premier Wen Jiabao visited a tax collection station in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday.

Accompanied by local officials, Wen talked to several employees in one of the busiest tax collection centers in the city and then held a group discussion with employee representatives.

Wen said China's tax revenue exceeded three trillion yuan (US$380 billion) last year. As a major financial source for the state budget, the money has played an important role in improving people's lives.

He extended his thanks to all the people engaged in tax collecting activities across the country.

Wen said collecting tax is also an important means to narrow the gap between rich and poor in China.

For future work, Wen said China will continue to strengthen taxation enforcement and reform the taxation system.

He urged tax collectors across the country to establish good relations with tax payers and build a good image of the government.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2006)