Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) talks with local farmers at Beigoutou Village of Zhengshan Town in Linshu County, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 29, 2009. Premier Wen made an inspection tour in Shandong Province on Oct. 28-30.

    JINAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has underscored the importance of deepening reforms in the country's medical system and social security network so as to improve the livelihood of the general public.

    During a three-day inspection tour in eastern Shandong Province ending Friday, Wen visited county-level hospitals and vocational schools, chatting with local farmers and primary school students.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) plays a game with pupils at Wangfu Village Primary School in Feixian County, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 29, 2009.

    He called for putting people first and building a harmonious relationship between medical staff and patients.

    When visiting Zhu Wencai, a villager in Beigoutou Village of Linshu County, Wen inquired about the implementation of the new rural cooperative medical care system, a government initiative aiming to make health care more affordable for rural residents.

    The Premier said more financial support would be given to the development of medical care, education and old-age insurance system in rural areas due to narrow the existing development gap between rural and urban areas.

    In his tour to a local school, Wen said the development of vocational education, which will serve as an important means to tackle unemployment, would help boost domestic demand and offset the impact of the global economic downturn.

    Wen also encouraged young people to contribute their intelligence and knowledge to the country's modernization drive as China still boasts a huge population of poverty-stricken people.