Torrential rains driven by Typhoon Saudel have battered east China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, prompting the highest-level flood emergency response.
In Fujian's Fuding City, authorities issued a top-tier mobilization order on Tuesday, implementing the measures including the suspension of bus services and the closure of schools, markets and workplaces.
The heavy rainfall sent water levels surging across all major rivers and tributaries in Fuding. Several townships reported overflow, waterlogging, road landslides, and homes taking on water in low-lying areas.
Village officials have inspected drainage ditches and channels and cleared silt and debris to accelerate drainage.
Rubber boats have been deployed to evacuate trapped residents. As of Tuesday, 2,123 people from danger zones have been urgently relocated and settled.
In neighboring Zhejiang's Longgang City, firefighters worked through Tuesday night to rescue 52 trapped residents.
Among the trapped was an 80-year-old man suffering from bronchitis, stranded on the second floor of a flooded building. Firefighters, joined by community workers, carefully carried the elderly man on a rescue boat and sent him to safety.
Typhoon Saudel triggers top flood alert as torrential rains hit east China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar in Beijing on Tuesday.
Noting that in recent years, under the guidance of the two countries' leaders, the China-Slovakia strategic partnership has maintained high-level momentum, Wang said the relationship has become a model for countries of different sizes and systems to coexist in friendship, treat each other as equals and pursue win-win cooperation.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, briefed the Slovak side on the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He said that China is ready to enhance experience sharing with Slovakia on party and state governance, make good use of mechanisms such as the intergovernmental cooperation committee, and increase people-to-people and grassroots exchanges.
China is ready to work with Slovakia to act on the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
China always believes that China and Europe should remain committed to properly resolving frictions and differences through dialogue and consultation, and hopes Slovakia will continue to play a constructive role in the sound and steady development of China-Europe relations, Wang noted.
Blanar congratulated China on the successful convening of the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, saying that the overall leadership of the Party and long-term political and social stability are the institutional strength and political guarantee behind China's sustained and rapid development. Slovakia is ready to strengthen inter-party exchanges with China, he added.
Blanar noted that Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and always regards China as an important partner. Slovakia will continue to do its utmost to provide a stable and sound environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in the country and offer greater facilitation for personnel exchanges, he said.
Slovakia is also ready to play a constructive role in Europe-China dialogue and cooperation and will continue to support and take part in China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation, Blanar added.
Chinese FM holds talks with Slovak counterpart
