China is taking strict measures to ensure production safety in coalmines during reconstruction work in the earthquake-damaged regions.

Wang Dexue is vice director of the State Administration of Work Safety.

"We want to take the resumption of production as an opportunity to further regulate the mining business. Coalmine enterprises will have to pass our tests, according to work safety laws and regulations. Mines, whether big or small, cannot resume their business if they fail in any of the tests."

Wang says the administration is going to build 26 state-level coalmine rescue bases, 20 hazardous chemical rescue centers and 11 marine bases in an effort to improve its emergency aid system.

Nearly 300 coalmines were damaged in the earthquake. But Wang Shuhe, vice director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, believes this will not severely affect coal production nationwide. He says the government will impose stringent measures on resuming mine production in the quake-hit regions.

"About the damaged coalmines, we will check out their facilities, outline rigorous plans, and draft work-safety measures. After that, we will gradually store facilities on the ground and improve their maintenance. Strict technical standards will also be set. They have to meet these standards before restarting their mining business."