The State Council held a teleconference Wednesday to extend guidelines for the anti-drought work in 11 provincial areas including Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Shaanxi provinces, and the municipality of Chongqing.

In instructions to the meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao called for strong responsibility and a high sense of serving the people, and for instant mobilization of all forces in fighting against drought.

Priority should be given to ensuring urban water supply, easing the shortage of water supply in rural areas, making agricultural production proceed smoothly, and guaranteeing the safety of employees working in the hot weather, said Wen.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, who is also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, urged all local governments to enhance supervision and coordination in the drought-resistance work and to make rational use of water resources.

The unusual drought in the eastern and southern parts of China has greatly affected local agricultural production and made the water supply in some urban areas far from demand, said Hui.

Hui also stressed that the main task was to ensure water supply for people in the drought-stricken areas, while calling for developing new water resources, promoting economic use of water and keeping a high alert to possible fire disaster.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2003)