Heavy rains in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality swelled the Meijiang River above flood warning levels on Sunday, flooding low-lying areas and forcing emergency crews to evacuate residents.
The downpour triggered the river's second flood of the year in Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, where water levels peaked at 342.4 meters, 0.93 meters above the warning mark, flooding riverside homes before authorities went door to door to assist evacuations.
As of Monday morning, the river had receded to 338.48 meters, nearly three meters below the warning level, easing immediate risks.
Meteorological officials, however, urged residents to avoid non-essential outings and warned departments to stay alert for secondary disasters such as flash floods and landslides.
Heavy downpours trigger floods in Chongqing, residents evacuated
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said Thursday that China stands ready to work with all parties to deepen digital and artificial intelligence (AI) practical cooperation with a view to generating stronger momentum for the building of the Asia-Pacific community.
Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Zhang said China will stay committed to innovation-driven development, advance the AI sector's technological innovation, industrial development and application scenarios, and lead digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region.
The country will advance the joint formulation of standards, rules and industrial collaboration, promote open-source and open cooperation in technology, and boost digital prosperity in the region, Zhang said.
China will also advance the construction of digital and AI infrastructure, facilitate the secure, orderly, and efficient flow and utilization of data, and deliver greater benefits to the people in the region, he added.
Meanwhile, China will strengthen coordination on development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, and work together to build a fair and equitable global AI governance system, Zhang said.
Themed "Digital Technologies and AI for the Empowerment of an Asia-Pacific Community," the meeting was attended by over 170 representatives from APEC member economies, the Secretariat, and observers.
China stands ready to deepen digital, AI practical cooperation with all parties: vice premier
