Zhengzhou City, capital of China's Henan Province, on Thursday afternoon raised its flood control alert to Level III, the third-highest in the four-tier emergency response system, as torrential rainfall had triggered severe urban flooding across the metropolitan area.
Between 08:00 and 14:00 Thursday, the city recorded maximum precipitation of 187 millimeters, with seven weather stations reporting rainfall between 100-249.9 millimeters.
The municipal flood control headquarters activated emergency response measures at 13:00, ordering a citywide suspension of production, business operations, school classes and outdoor activities as heavy rain continued to batter the city.
In Jinshui District, floodwaters reached over 65 centimeters deep, with firefighters responding quickly to rescue stranded residents using safety ropes, while drainage pumps operated non-stop to clear the area.
The city's major waterways reached critical levels, with the highest recorded depth at 325 centimeters.
Transportation in the city was severely disrupted, with a full closure of the ring expressway and partial suspensions of multiple metro lines.
Heavy rain hits Henan, flood response upgraded
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
