Recent snow crisis has limited impact
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-06 14:42

China's top macro-economic planner Ma Kai said Thursday that the recent snow and ice storms had limited impact on the country and would not change the fundamentals of the economy.

The Chinese government acted promptly to the disaster and the measures proved to be effective, the minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said at a press conference on the sidelines of China's parliamentary session.

Traffic had returned to normal on the whole before the Spring Festival, which falls on February 7, said the official.

The country's highway network accommodated 2 billion trips while railways 196 million trips during the just-ended 40-day Spring Festival transport season.

"Could any other country transport so many people in such a short time?" said the minister.

More than 90 percent of the power grids that damaged during the disaster have been repaired so far, Ma added.

Snow and ice storms plagued southern China since mid-January, leading to widespread traffic jams, structural collapses, blackouts and crop losses in 19 provinces, leaving 129 people dead and causing 151.65 billion yuan (US$21.3 billion) of losses.