Foreign news

Xi Jinping urges officials and Party members to take responsibility in flood-triggered relief work

Published

5 years ago

August 21, 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged local governments and Party members to take responsibility in flood-triggered disaster prevention and relief work as large parts of China were reeling from the worst floods in decades.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

It is the third instruction from Xi on natural disaster control and prevention in less than three weeks.

Since the flood season began in June, a total of 433 rivers, as well as major lakes like Dongting, Poyang and Taihu, have risen beyond their warning levels, according to a release by the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) on July 13.

As many as 33 rivers have risen to their highest levels in history.

The MWR said the current trends remain grim on the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake basins, and the belt of heavy rain that has lashed central China would eventually head north.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said since June the average rainfall has broken its record since in 1961, and 141 people were dead or missing, with economic losses at around 60 billion yuan (8.57 billion U.S. dollars).

Xi said governments at all levels as well as Party members should be mobilized in fighting the floods and they should pull all out to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

Xi emphasized that flood prevention and disaster relief are related to people’s safety and lives, food security, economic and social security and national security.

It’s very important to handle flood prevention and disaster relief work properly, Xi said, as China will build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and win the battle against poverty by the end of this year.

As northern China will enter its rainy season, Xi asked relevant departments and local governments to strengthen coordination in flood control.

During the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 19, Xi warned of potential damage and economic losses as the country was about to enter a flood season and asked relevant departments and local governments to overcome difficulties and race against time to repair reservoirs and store enough disaster supplies so as to protect people’s lives and property.

The meeting on Friday urged governments at all levels to put people’s lives and property first, and local authorities should carefully plan production resumption and help people get back to their normal lives as soon as possible.

(Cover: Evacuating flood-stranded people with a rubber boat in Jingdezhen City, east China’s Jiangxi Province, July 8, 2020. /Xinhua)

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Foreign news

Pakistan Moves to Deepen Diplomatic, Economic Relations With Nigeria

Published

4 days ago

November 27, 2025

The Gleamer

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has called for deeper diplomatic and economic ties with the Nigerian government to foster development for both countries.

Mr Rana Ihsaan, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his working vist to Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the visiting Coordinator held a closed-door meeting with Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

After the meeting, he said that both both sides had agreed on deepening relations in the areas of trade and commerce, among others.

Ihsaan said that both countries must see the need to accelerate efforts towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

He said that Pakistan had already submitted a draft BTA and was awaiting Nigeria’s response.

According to him, discussions centered on easing visa processes, expanding educational exchanges, and strengthening Cooperation in sectors such as Minerals, Youth training, and Defence were highlighted.

Ihsaan said that Pakistan had already implemented visa-on-arrival for Nigerians at no cost, and urged Nigeria to reciprocate to enhance people-to-people ties.

He stressed the importance of high-level engagements between both nations, describing Nigeria and Pakistan as very similar countries with large populations, youthful demographics, and vast economic potentials.

“Deeper collaboration will unlock opportunities in trade, education and investment, while further solidifying long-standing diplomatic relations,” he said.

He said that aside from visiting the foriegn Minister and other top government officials in Nigeria, he was also in the country to attend the on-going West Africa Beauty Exhibition holding in Lagos.

He described the exhibition as one of the continent’s largest cosmetic fairs, adding that he led a delegation of 19 Pakistani business people exploring Nigeria’s estimated 10 million dollar beauty and cosmetics market.

Ihsaan said that Nigeria was a gateway to Africa, adding that Pakistani products, like cosmetics, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Food items and Sports goods were already gaining traction in the country.

He encouraged Pakistani exhibitors to establish offices, Warehouses and logistics partnerships to strengthen their foothold in the Nigerian market.

Ihsaan further addressed concerns from Nigerian businesses on the ease of doing business in Pakistan.

He said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan had been supporting Nigerian participants at major exhibitions to achieve the ease of doing business.

“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as a one-stop platform for Nigerians interested in investing in Pakistan,” he said

Culled from NAN

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