Xi chairs CPC leadership meeting on Flood Control, calls for all-out effort to protect lives

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, directing authorities at all levels to strengthen flood control, drought relief and disaster response as the country braces for a challenging flood season marked by increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

The meeting, presided over by Xi in his capacity as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reviewed the national flood control and drought relief situation and outlined comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding lives, protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring agricultural production.

According to the meeting, China is expected to experience more extreme weather and climate events than usual during this year's principal flood season, with floods and droughts likely to occur simultaneously in different regions, posing significant challenges to disaster management and emergency response.

The Political Bureau called on governments, Party organizations and relevant departments across the country to strengthen coordination and implement effective measures for flood prevention, drought relief, emergency response and disaster mitigation.

Emphasising that protecting people's lives must remain the foremost priority, the meeting instructed authorities to reinforce flood control measures along major rivers, lakes and reservoirs while enhancing monitoring and early-warning systems for areas vulnerable to natural disasters.

The leadership also highlighted the growing risk of abrupt transitions between drought and flooding, calling for improved management and unified dispatch of water resources to ensure both flood protection and adequate water supplies for communities, agriculture and industry.

The meeting stressed the importance of safeguarding key infrastructure, including transportation networks, energy facilities, water conservancy projects and ongoing construction works, while strengthening the resilience of agricultural infrastructure to minimise disruptions to food production and rural livelihoods.

The Political Bureau directed emergency management authorities to ensure rapid and efficient rescue and relief operations wherever disasters occur. It called for enhanced preparedness through the deployment of emergency response teams, stockpiling of rescue equipment and supplies, and continuous improvement of grassroots disaster prevention and response capabilities.

Officials at all levels were urged to uphold a people-centred approach to governance and faithfully fulfil their responsibilities during the flood season. The meeting called on Party organizations, cadres and members to take the lead in protecting people's lives and property while maintaining overall social stability.

China has in recent years placed increasing emphasis on strengthening its national emergency management system in response to the growing impact of climate change and extreme weather. The country has expanded investment in flood-control infrastructure, upgraded meteorological forecasting capabilities and modernised its disaster monitoring and early-warning networks.

Chinese authorities have also accelerated the construction and reinforcement of reservoirs, embankments, drainage systems and sponge-city projects designed to improve urban resilience against flooding. The Ministry of Water Resources has repeatedly stressed the importance of scientific water management and coordinated river basin planning to address both flooding and water shortages.

Flood control remains a national priority as China enters its annual rainy season, when heavy rainfall frequently affects major river basins, including the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, as well as densely populated southern and central provinces. In recent years, extreme rainfall events have caused widespread flooding, prompting large-scale evacuations and extensive disaster relief operations.

The latest meeting underscores the CPC leadership's focus on strengthening disaster preparedness and improving governance capacity as part of broader efforts to enhance public safety, safeguard economic development and build greater resilience against climate-related risks.