President also calls for immediate response to rain-related disasters

President Xi Jinping has encouraged international students at Nanjing Audit University to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of China and contribute to promoting friendship and cooperation among countries.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on July 4 in a letter replying to international students pursuing master’s degrees in auditing at the university in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province.

Thirty-seven international students at the university wrote to him recently, sharing their experiences of studying in China. They told Xi that they would keep in mind their experiences in China, cherish their emotional connections with China forever, and strive to act as ambassadors in enhancing friendship between China and their own countries.

In his reply letter, the president said he was happy to learn that the students have gained professional knowledge and deepened their understanding of the nation’s auditing system, socialism with Chinese characteristics and the CPC, through in-house learning and field visits while studying in China.

Xi pointed out that China attaches great importance to the role of auditing in the governance of the country. After years of exploration, China has established a socialist auditing system with Chinese characteristics and formed a centralized, comprehensive and efficient auditing supervision system, he said.

Xi expressed hope that the students will strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with their Chinese counterparts, understand China, and actively contribute to deepening friendship and cooperation between China and other countries.

Established in 2016, Nanjing Audit University’s master’s program in auditing has trained more than 280 professionals for auditing institutions in 76 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Separately, Xi directed authorities at all levels to prioritize the safety of people and property and make concerted efforts to step up emergency response to floods, mudslides and other natural disasters triggered by torrential rainfall.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an important instruction published on July 5 after incessant rainfall hit many parts of the country including Southwest China’s Chongqing, causing heavy casualties and property losses.

Between July 3 and 10 am on July 5, 15 people died in rain-related incidents in Chongqing and four others were missing, local authorities said. Heavy rains have disrupted the lives of more than 130,000 people in 19 districts and counties, damaging over 7,500 hectares of crops.

In his instruction, Xi said the country is about to enter its main flood season, which usually starts in late July and continues till early August, and it is important to prevent possible flood disasters in the Yangtze, Huaihe, Songhua and Liaohe river basins.

He required the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the ministries of emergency management and water resources to enhance coordination, strengthen consultation and research, and improve early warnings and forecasts.

The president underscored that key officials at all levels must take the lead in fighting the floods, put the safety of people and property first, and strive to minimize all kinds of losses.

Early on July 5, Wang Daoxi, vice-minister of water resources, led a working team to Wanzhou, the hardest-hit district in Chongqing, for flood control and rescue work.

Following Xi’s instruction, the finance and emergency management ministries announced 320 million yuan in emergency funds to aid disaster relief in 16 provincial-level regions including Chongqing and neighboring Sichuan province.

Contact the writers at caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn