Vice-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao asked the country to strengthen its flood-control and water conservancy efforts on November 14.

During a meeting held by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, Wen praised this year's flood control and drought relief work, saying the successes were the result of the full attention paid to the matters by the leadership at all levels as well as various flood-prevention measures and thoughtful preparation.

He urged the relevant departments to take advantage of the low water-level season to solidify dykes and complete other flood control projects.

These departments should attached greater importance to the construction of farmland water conservancy projects, he said.

Wen also asked the departments in the north to keep an eye on the water levels in the Yellow, Songhua and other rivers next spring after the winter ice thaws.