Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chats with villagers at Zhangjiawan Village in Xingxian County, north China's Shanxi Province, on April 3, 2011. Wen Jiabao paid an inspection tour around the Luliang Mountains, a hinterland of north China's Shanxi Province, from April 2 to 4.  [Photo/Xinhua]

TAIYUAN - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for more support for poverty-stricken areas during an inspection tour to Luliang Mountains, a hinterland of North China's Shanxi province.

Despite major changes in Luliang, the living standard of farmers in underdeveloped areas, including Luliang Mountains, was still low and conditions in villages were still poor, Wen said.

"We shall continue to improve support for underdeveloped regions and encourage and lead all quarters of the society in poverty reduction," Wen said.

He hoped for greater changes in Luliang Mountains and other underdeveloped regions in more than 10 years.

The tour from Saturday to Monday was Wen's third inspection to Luliang Mountains since 1990s. He was impressed by poverty during his first inspection to Luliang 18 years ago.

In the just-ended tour, Wen was glad to see villagers move to new houses and children study in new school.

The three-day tour took Wen to the counties of Lanxian, Xingxian and Linxian.