Rescuers intensify search efforts in mudslide-hit village in east China's Jiangxi

Armed police officers and soldiers, in coordination with multiple professional rescue forces, are conducting in-depth search and rescue operations for missing people in the core disaster zone in Mingkeng Village of east China's Jiangxi Province.

At around 07:00 on Tuesday, the rescue headquarters integrated 12 professional teams, including the armed police, public security, and the fire department, to launch a search-and-rescue operation for missing persons in the hardest-hit area of the Shixia group of Mingkeng Village.

As of 18:00 on Tuesday, the mudslide that occurred in the early hours of Saturday has killed 12 people, including one newly identified missing person found in subsequent searches. At present, one person remains unaccounted for, and rescue forces are intensifying their search and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the Ji'an Detachment of the Jiangxi Armed Police Force deployed officers and soldiers to extend rescue efforts to surrounding disaster-affected townships.

On Tuesday morning, rescuers split into multiple teams and rushed to several villages in Zuo'an Township and Tanghu Township of Suichuan County to urgently evacuate the trapped residents.

Trapped in mountainous areas, villagers faced destroyed access roads and mountain paths that became slippery and impassable after days of heavy rainfall; most stranded residents were elderly people with limited mobility. The armed police officers and soldiers conducted door-to-door checks and carried the trapped residents on their backs, successfully evacuating all of them to safe zones.

"All village roads are completely impassable. The local residents here are all left-behind elderly people and children, and it is extremely difficult to complete the evacuation relying solely on the strength of the town government officials. This time, we are deeply indebted to the armed police officers and soldiers for their assistance in evacuating all these elderly residents," said Wang Yuli, deputy mayor of Tanghu Township in Suichuan County.

"The mountain slopes are covered in thick mud, making the ground extremely slippery. In some sections, stretchers cannot pass through at all, so rescuers have to carry the stranded people on their backs. As long as the people are safe, it is worthwhile to endure all the hardship and exhaustion," said Jiang Jiang, a soldier of the Ji'an Detachment of the Jiangxi Armed Police Force.

Rescuers intensify search efforts in mudslide-hit village in east China's Jiangxi

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