21st Century Business Herald: 

What is the flood control situation like this year, as northern and southern China have both entered the flood season? What measures will be adopted by the General Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the MEM? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

Thank you for your concern about the work related to flood control and drought relief. According to the latest meteorological and hydrological data, there will be two rain belts in northern and southern China during the main flood season (from June to August) this year. Precipitation is expected to increase by over 10% in northeast, north, east, and south China, and precipitation in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is expected to drop 20-50%. Major floods may occur in the middle and lower reaches of the Songhua River, the upper reaches of the Nenjiang River, the middle reaches of the Heilongjiang River, the Pearl River basin, Poyang Lake, and the Minjiang River. Summer drought may occur temporarily in Xinjiang, as well as the middle reaches and the eastern part of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The number of typhoons making landfall in the country is expected to be the same as usual, with their paths being expected to generally go west and northwest, affecting the coastal areas in south and east China.

In order to win the tough battle of flood control and drought relief this year, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has confirmed 2,521 people administratively responsible for the flood control and drought relief work nationwide this year. We have sent eight inspection teams to seven major river basins in 17 key provinces across the country to inspect their preparation work related to flood control and send targeted supervision lists to ensure those found to have problems will carry out the rectification work. Moreover, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters held joint drills for flood and typhoon prevention ahead of the flood season in the Yangtze River Delta area, and it also held national flood control and drought relief emergency response plans table-top exercises. By doing so, the coordinated working mechanism has been improved in an all-around manner. Going forward, we will make stepped-up efforts in the following aspects:

First, we will make sure that relevant departments will fulfill their responsibilities when it comes to flood control and drought relief. We will step up efforts to reinforce the system wherein the leading government officials shall assume overall responsibility for flood control and ensure that all the responsibilities can be fulfilled, including those regarding management, inspection, and techniques. We will urge local governments to establish a five-level responsibility system for flood control--the provincial, city, county, township, and village, with governments at higher administrative levels being responsible for that at lower levels. We will clarify the responsibilities and tasks for those who are held accountable for flood control at all levels. In particular, they need to well understand flood control plans and key jobs, as well as the risks and hidden dangers in their areas of responsibility. Local Party and government leaders have been required to direct the response work at the crucial moment for flood control, and those responsible for relevant jobs need to go to the front line as well. 

Second, we will strengthen coordination between monitoring and early warning systems and emergency response. We will organize meteorological, hydrological, and natural resources departments to carry out joint studies on flood and drought situation and respond according to plans and research results in a timely manner. Moreover, we will send working groups and experts to the frontline to assist local governments and departments to address flooding. We will help local governments improve the coordination mechanism of meteorological early warning and emergency response, ensuring that they are able to respond as soon as there is a warning. We will ramp up efforts to implement the “call and response” early warning mechanism, which can reach those in charge at the primary level so as to ensure that they will be able to adopt prevention measures as soon as possible.

Third, we will make greater efforts to strengthen inspection of major projects. We will urge local governments and departments to investigate hidden dangers and strengthen inspection over the key parts of major dams, hydroelectric power stations, and infrastructure facilities, as well as the weak links of dangerous reservoirs, structures passing through levee embankments, check dams, and tailing ponds so as to ensure early detection and quick responses.

Fourth, we will strengthen emergency rescue and evacuation, with a particular emphasis on areas prone to flooding. This involves ensuring the presence of pre-positioned emergency response teams and the availability of essential supplies and equipment. We will guide every region to implement evacuation measures outlined in the contingency plans. Priority must be given to the timely and decisive relocation of individuals from high-risk areas. The key focus areas include determining who should be evacuated, who should organize it, when to evacuate, selecting evacuation locations, and effectively managing the entire process. The aim is to facilitate comprehensive and timely evacuations for those requiring evacuation, thereby minimizing the risk of harm to individuals. Thank you.