Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew to the Huaihe River Saturday to inspect and direct flood control work along the river ravaged by the worst flooding since 1991.
Wen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, will also convey gratitude and appreciation to local people, officers and men of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, armed police and police combating flood on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC central Committee.
Aboard the plane, Wen listened to reports about the latest flood conditions and discussed how to further harness the river with flood control officials.
Wen called for giving top priority to the safety the interests of the people and winning the battle against the flood through strong leadership and scientific measures.
Since late June, the Huaihe valley has experienced heavy rainfalls, resulting in the surging of water in most of the mainstream and tributaries along the upper and middle reaches of the river.
The flooding has been effectively controlled and further control efforts and relief work are underway.
Currently, the flood condition along the river is still serious as water keeps rising because of continued rainfalls over the past days.
(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2003)
