South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

Authorities across southern China have intensified emergency measures and expanded evacuations as Typhoon Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, approaches landfall.

As the typhoon moved closer, Guangdong Province raised its emergency response for strong winds to Level II on Saturday, relocating more than 300 vessels to safe waters.

The Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration also upgraded its typhoon emergency response to Level II on Saturday. Maritime authorities along the coast were instructed to strengthen duty shifts and on-site typhoon prevention efforts, verify that personnel had been evacuated ashore, and organize local vessels to leave port and take shelter.

Hainan has issued a Level III emergency response for strong winds and flooding.

Haikou, the provincial capital, began a gradual, citywide suspension of classes, work, transportation, flights, park services, and business operations on Saturday afternoon, with the measures remaining in effect through Sunday.

All inbound and outbound flights at Haikou Meilan International Airport were cancelled starting at 23:00 on Saturday.

RoPax ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended from 16:00 Saturday.

Wenchang City in Hainan Province, one of the locations along the typhoon's projected landfall path, has established 363 temporary shelters for construction workers and nearby residents. Each shelter has been stocked with emergency supplies and equipped with generators to ensure a stable temporary power supply for those taking refuge.

The typhoon, observed at 18 degrees north latitude and 117.7 degrees east longitude at 5:00 on Saturday, is moving northwestward at a speed of 25-30 km per hour, according to China's National Meteorological Center (NMC).

It is anticipated to make landfall along coastal areas ranging from Dianbai in Guangdong Province to Wanning in Hainan Province, both located in south China, around noon on Sunday, the NMC said.

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

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