Beijing – President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out rescue efforts after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave important instructions and urged all efforts to rescue and treat the injured. He also called for proper rehabilitation of affected residents.

Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for rescue operations on Tuesday.

He said that since the earthquake-hit area is located on a cold plateau, all possible measures should be taken to ensure the basic livelihood of the affected people and keep them warm in the winter.

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, led a team to the site of the earthquake.