MOST convened a meeting to launch the post-earthquake aid program on October 14th. Related officials from nine provincial S&T departments including Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi, as well as Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Education attended the meeting. Vice Minister of Science and Technology ZHANG Laiwu addressed the meeting.
   
ZHANG pointed out that S&T Special Commissioner system had played an important role in serving agriculture. Jointly undertaken by MOST, Ministry of Personnel, and Ministry of Agriculture, the system covers 1039 counties (cities and districts) in 31 provinces. With technological strength and grass-root working experience, S&T Special Commissioners is bound to contribute more to the post-quake reconstruction.