China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Sunday renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms, as days of downpours grip central and eastern parts of the country, posing geological disaster risks and disrupting railway operations.
The country has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Precipitation is expected to intensify significantly on Sunday in north China, the Huanghuai region, the southern areas of central China's Hubei Province, and the eastern areas of southwest China, with deluges reaching torrential levels in some areas, according to the NMC.
The rain belt will gradually move eastward through Tuesday to bring lasting heavy rains and strong severe convective weather such as thunderstorms and gales to parts of north China, the Huanghuai region, and coastal areas of south China, where such downpours are rarely recorded for this time of the year.
The weather authorities also warned of high risks of geological disasters and flash floods in parts of Hubei and southwest China's Guizhou Province.
Bracing for torrential rains, the China Railway Guangzhou Group has announced that some passenger train services on certain rail lines will be suspended from Sunday to Monday to ensure passenger safety.
Rainstorms prompt weather alerts, train suspensions across China
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
