The meeting, the first so far this year, was chaired by Vice- Premier Wen Jiabao, who heads the SFCDRH, and local authorities and departments concerned were urged to make full preparations to do a good job of it.

According to sources with the meeting, one of the major tasks for this year's anti-flood and anti-drought efforts is to ensure sufficient water supply in urban and rural areas and strive to reap a good harvest in the agricultural sector.

Work should be done to ensure the safety of areas along big rivers, big reservoirs and large and mid-sized cities, while measures should be taken to control flood along smaller rivers and reservoirs, the sources said, adding that where there comes extraordinary flooding, the local authorities must work hard to minimize the losses.

(Xinhua 06/01/2001)