China's southern, eastern regions ramp up flood emergency response as rainstorms swell rivers

Emergency flood control and rescue efforts have been stepped up across parts of China after torrential rainstorms triggered rising waters in rivers, with 18 exceeding warning levels by as much as 3.6 meters between 08:00 on Friday and 08:00 Saturday.

Notably, the Panyang River in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region experienced its largest flood since hydrological monitoring began in 2005.

Currently, the Ministry of Water Resources has activated a Level IV emergency response for flood control in nine provincial level regions - Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Guizhou. Four expert task forces have been dispatched to key areas, including Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, and Guangxi, to provide on-site guidance for flood prevention and disaster relief operations.

In Shimen County, Changde City of central China's Hunan Province, multiple locations recorded precipitation exceeding 400 millimeters, breaking historical records. The ensuing floods caused water levels in the county's main river channels to surge dramatically. Currently, 23 local reservoirs are conducting controlled flood discharge in sequential order. Since Wednesday, more than 9,500 residents in the county have been relocated.

Since the onset of the current round of heavy rainfall, over 53,000 residents have been evacuated in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Zhangjiajie City, Changde City, and Huaihua City of central China's Hunan Province.

The National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday that it had allocated 50 million yuan (about 6.97 million U.S. dollars) from China's central budget to bolster flood relief efforts in Hunan Province.

The funds will be directed toward restoring infrastructure and public services in the central province's affected regions, according to the commission.

The National Disaster Reduction Commission on Friday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding.

The Hubei Provincial Department of Water Resources and Hubei Provincial Meteorological Bureau jointly issued a red alert for mountain torrent, the severest in China's four-tier weather warning system that is color-coded with red, orange, yellow and blue, on Friday.

In Xiejiaping Tujia Township, Jingzhou City, central China's Hubei Province, heavy rainfall caused rapid water level rise in the southern branch of the Weishui River. Local authorities activated emergency response plans and organized resident evacuations. As of now, all 581 residents under flood threat have been safely relocated.

Heavy downpour lashed Hechi City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Friday.

In Changhe Village, Fenghuang Township, Bama Yao Autonomous County, severe flooding inundated numerous homes, with water levels reaching one to three meters. Rescue teams deployed rubber boats and life ropes to conduct door-to-door searches, evacuating stranded residents. As of 23:00 on Friday, 78 trapped villagers had been safely relocated.

Also on Friday, meteorological authorities in east China's Anhui Province issued red alerts for mountain flood disasters across four counties in Anqing and Lu'an cities.

Over the past two days, Leishan County in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, has been hit by torrential downpours. As of 17:00 on Friday, local authorities had safely evacuated 489 residents from 230 households across the county.

China's southern, eastern regions ramp up flood emergency response as rainstorms swell rivers

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting