Response efforts, including emergency evacuations, traffic control, sludge cleanup, and floodwater discharge, continued Saturday across south China, after days of heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding.
Downpours will continue to lash parts of China before this coming Monday on June 23 as the annual rainy season arrives, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said on Friday.
The agency on Saturday continued to issue an orange alert, the second highest-level warning, for rainstorms in the south.
In the provincial-level regions of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, and Hunan, torrential rains have triggered severe floods, inundating residential neighborhoods, stranding residents in their homes, raising river water levels, making streets and waterways impassable, and leaving public areas littered with debris.
In Liuzhou, a city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, traffic control measures have been enforced since Friday at 74 ferry terminals along a local river and on some adjacent roads, after water levels exceeded the flood warning threshold.
In Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, one of the worst-hit areas in the mountainous Guizhou Province of southwest China, local reservoirs and hydropower stations opened their spillways for flood control on Saturday.
Authorities in both Liuzhou and Qiandongnan are continuing to evacuate affected residents to shelters.
Elsewhere, a red alert, the highest-level warning, was issued for flash floods in central China's Hubei Province due to a high risk of flooding in cities including the provincial capital Wuhan, as well as Huanggang and Xiaogan late Saturday.
Local authorities are closely monitoring the precipitation and remain fully prepared for disaster response and relief operations.
Meanwhile, neighboring Hunan Province has seen the evacuation of 53,000 people over the past few days in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, as well as in the cities of Zhangjiajie, Changde, and Huaihua.
As floodwaters slowly receded from submerged areas in Xiangxi on Saturday, local authorities mobilized crews to clear debris and sludge.
A total of 50 million yuan (about 6.97 million U.S. dollars) from China's central budget has been earmarked to support flood relief efforts in Hunan, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday.
The funds will be directed toward restoring infrastructure and public services, according to the commission.
Flood relief efforts continue across rain-battered south China
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
