Lou Qinjian, secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Committee and provincial river chief, visited the Department of Water Resources on July 9 and called for all-out efforts in the flood rescue and relief work.

Lou said it’s important to deeply study and implement the instruction of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and ensure people's lives and safety as the top priority in the flood control.

He urged all departments to be highly responsible in their work, put into practice the relevant response measures, and protect people’s safety and interest in the rainy season.

Due to the flooding in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and local rainfalls, the whole Jiangsu section of the longest river in China as well as most lakes and rivers in southern Jiangsu were all declared at alert levels.

The Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters of Jiangsu raised the emergency response for flooding to Level IV for the section on July 7 and Level III for Taihu Lake the next day. Meanwhile, 13 taskforces were sent to all cities with subordinate districts in the province to inspect and guide the flood control efforts.

At the Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, Lou checked the real-time water level in key reservoirs, rivers and lakes and learned about flood situation and response measures during video talks with officers at the Sanhezha water-control project over the Huaihe River, Wangyu River water-control project in Changshu City, and the construction site of the Jiebei water-control project.

Lou said the province is now at the most critical stage of flood control and further efforts are necessary to combine prevention and emergency response, strengthen flood monitoring to timely identify potential risks, and regard flood control as the most pressing and important task.

Under the unified leadership and coordination of the Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, the province’s departments of weather, agriculture and rural affairs, and transportation have improved flood monitoring and analysis.

The Department of Water Resources is also taking the lead in key areas to ensure prevention, flood management, organization and preparation in order to protect safety of people and property.

Lou also said the 10-year fishing ban on key areas of the Yangtze River is an important strategy for overall development and the interest of the future generation.

Authorities in Jiangsu need to shoulder the responsibility, increase cooperation and coordination, win the battle against illegal fishing, and try to become a role model in terms of the Yangtze River protection and ecological restoration in the country.