An annual struggle against rising rivers

So far this year floods have killed 569 people and forced more than two million from their homes, Chinese officials say.

A swathe of southern and central China has been affected but particular concern is focused on the Huai River in the east, which has reached its highest level in a decade.

"We must achieve victory in our anti-flood and disaster relief work," one newspaper headline quoting Mr Hu read.

"We must face the challenge of even greater floods to come."

Responsible

This is the first flooding season the new president and his cabinet have collectively faced.

The BBC's Francis Markus in Shanghai says China's leaders are keen to project an efficient and caring image, building on some of the credit for their response to Sars, which after an initial cover-up became more open.

As usual the Chinese armed forces are at the forefront of disaster relief efforts.

But the central government is also making it clear that local officials will be held responsible for the way flood disasters are tackled in their areas.

"Responsible comrades at all levels of party and government and every department must strengthen leadership," Mr Hu was quoted as saying.

The latest figures from the Civil Affairs Ministry show that:

• 505,000 homes have been destroyed

• 1.3 million homes damaged

• 2.3 million people evacuated

• economic losses nationwide are put at $4.8bn

"So far it has not reached the level of the big disaster of 1991 or the big disaster of 1998," it said, a reference to flooding which claimed more than 5,000 and 4,000 lives respectively.

China's flooding season usually beings in June and ends in September.