Xi chairs meeting on flood control, relief work

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday chaired a meeting on China’s flood control and disaster relief efforts, calling for authorities at all levels to stay highly vigilant and proactive to win the tough battle against floods.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chaired the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to study and arrange work related to flood control and disaster relief as China has entered a critical period in its fight against floods.

Pointing out the grim and complex flood control situation this year, the meeting said important progress has been made in flood control and relief thanks to efforts from CPC committees and governments at all levels, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, relevant departments and institutions, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the People’s Armed Police Force (PAPF), firefighters and professional rescue forces, as well as officials and residents.

The meeting stressed that China is at a key stage of its flood control work as high flooding risks in several Chinese rivers and the approaching of an active period for typhoons have made the flood control situation more severe and complicated, and urged relevant regions and authorities to remain vigilant and resolutely win the battle of flood control and relief.

The meeting pointed out that ensuring people’s safety should always be the top priority of China’s flood control work, and called for efforts to improve monitoring and warning measures, increase response speed, and minimize casualties.

It also called for measures to ensure the safety of major dikes, reservoirs and other important infrastructure, and to strengthen investigation efforts to eliminate risks.

The meeting urged all-out rescue and relief efforts, timely allocation of relief funds and supplies, prompt repair of power supplies, transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as solid disaster prevention and relief work for the agricultural sector.

Support should be provided to affected residents to prevent disaster-related poverty, and measures should be taken to continuously improve the comprehensive disaster prevention capacity across the whole of society, according to the meeting.

Party committees and governments at all levels should earnestly implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, shoulder their political responsibilities, and ensure the development and safety of local regions, the meeting said.

It also requested strengthened overall planning by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, proactive leadership and guidance by officials at all levels, close coordination between relevant authorities, and valiant flood fighting by CPC organizations and members at the grassroots level to safeguard people’s lives and property.