 |
|
| Wen Jiabao oversees Huaihe River flood control efforts |
| CCTV.COM 2003-07-15 09:07:33 |
|
The worst flooding in more than a decade has taken Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to affected areas in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. The battle against floodwaters in East China has reached a critical point, especially along the swollen Huaihe River.
Premier Wen Jiabao, accompanied by Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, spent the weekend inspecting flood control facilities and visiting evacuees along the Huaihe River.
Their first stop was the Wangjiaba water surveillance station, where sluice gates had been opened twice in two weeks to divert flood waters.
Wen Jiabao asked about changes of water levels before and after the sluice gates were opened and went to one tent after another to ask evacuees about their access to relief supplies and medical care.
In the afternoon, the premier went to the Jinjiagou section of the Huaibei embankment, and thanked the People's Liberation Army and the armed police for trying to hold back the rising waters.
Wen Jiabao said, "I would like to express sincere thanks to you all on behalf of CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao and Central Military Commission chairman Jiang Zemin."
On the second day, the premier drove 200 kilometers to neighboring Jiangsu Province to inspect the water channel where the Huaihe River runs into the Yellow Sea.
Wen Jiabao also listened to provincial officials' reports about the latest flood conditions and discussed how to further harness the river.
The premier highlighted the importance of strong leadership and technology in winning the battle against the floods.
He stressed that the safety of the people remained paramount.
Since late June, there's been heavy rainfall in the Huaihe valley, resulting in water surges in most of the mainstream and tributaries along the upper and middle reaches of the river.
The Huaihe River originates in Henan Province, central China, and runs through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong, before emptying into the Yellow Sea.
|
|
Editor: Xiao Wei CCTV.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
