The Flood Control in 1998
In the summer of 1998, devastating floods inundated many of the regions south of the Yangtze River and parts of north China. Twenty-nine provinces and provincial-level administrative regions were hit, with 223 million people affected.
At the critical moment, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council took timely, comprehensive measures. Jiang Zemin and other Party and state leaders went to the front lines on several occasions, to encourage the people and offer guidance in the battle against the floods. More than 300,000 soldiers and police rushed to join the local officials and civilians in the relief effort. Together they countered the floods, eliminated threats, and safeguarded river levees, major cities and railways, as well as the lives of countless people.
On September 28, 1998, a national meeting was held in Beijing to review the battle against the floods and commend those who had been involved. Addressing the meeting, Jiang Zemin said that in the battle against the floods, the Chinese nation and people had exhibited a noble spirit – a great spirit of uniting as one, forging a powerful will, fearing no difficulty, struggling tenaciously, being firm and unflinching, and having the courage to win. Like the revolutionary spirit advocated by the Party and the pioneering spirit of the new period, the spirit of the battle against the floods was also a treasure of the Chinese people.
“九八”抗洪抢险
1998年夏，中国江南、华南大部分地区及北方局部地区发生了有史以来罕见的特大洪水，全国共有29个省、自治区、直辖市遭受不同程度的洪涝灾害，受灾人口达2.23亿。
面对特大洪水袭击，中共中央、国务院审时度势，周密部署。江泽民等党和国家领导人多次亲临抗洪抢险第一线，看望、慰问、鼓励广大抗洪军民，指导抗洪抢险斗争。各级领导干部纷纷奔赴前线，同广大军民一道顽强奋战。人民解放军和武警部队出动30余万官兵参加抗洪抢险斗争，发挥了中流砥柱的作用。在中共中央领导下，广大军民不畏艰险、团结奋战，顶住了一次又一次洪峰的冲击，排除了一个又一个险情，确保了大江大河干堤、重要城市和铁路干线的安全，确保了人民群众的生命安全，取得了抗洪抢险斗争的重大胜利。
1998年9月28日，全国抗洪抢险总结表彰大会在北京召开。江泽民发表重要讲话，强调在同洪水搏斗中，中华民族和中国人民展现出了一种十分崇高的精神，这就是万众一心、众志成城，不怕困难、顽强拼搏，坚韧不拔、敢于胜利的伟大抗洪精神。“九八”抗洪精神同中国共产党一贯倡导的革命精神和新时期的创业精神一样，都是中国人民的宝贵精神财富。