The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) opened in Beijing on Thursday morning, with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", the three-day event aims to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between China and Africa.
The FOCAC summit this time is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, drawing the attendance of over 50 African leaders and the UN secretary-general.
Before the ceremony, Xi met leaders from African countries and international organizations and posed for group photos with them at the Great Hall of the People, where the opening ceremony is held.
2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opens in Beijing
2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opens in Beijing
Authorities in east China's coastal provinces Zhejiang and Jiangsu have launched emergency evacuation of residents to help mitigate the impact of Typhoon Bebinca -- the 13th typhoon of the year.
In Zhejiang's Pinghu City, communities have started the relocation work. The old town area of Xindai, home to about 1,400 permanent residents, including some 30 percent elderly, has been a focus of evacuation efforts.
Over 50 elderly residents have been evacuated to a temporary courtyard shelter, where they have plenty of space for meals and walking around. The shelter is equipped with folding beds, food, drinking water and medical staff standing by to address any health concerns.
The province also raised its emergency response for typhoon prevention to level II.
In Jiangsu Province, Nantong City has conducted comprehensive safety inspections and organized evacuations in key areas.
Nantong's Rugao Port on the Yangtze River was shutdown on Sunday afternoon.
All workers at the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Bridge construction site -- located at a river shoal -- are evacuated ahead of the storm attack.
"From the temporary ferry to the Rugao-Zhangjiagang ferry, we have evacuated a total of 428 people. So far, all construction personnel of the Zhangjinggao Bridge within the scope of this construction site have been evacuated to our shelter," said Ding Xiaoxing, chief engineer of Rugao Water Affairs Department.
Authorities in Nantong has evacuated more than 1,400 people and over 200 vessels along the coastal area under its jurisdiction.
Making landfall in Shanghai on Monday morning, Typhoon Bebinca is the most powerful tropical cyclone directly hitting the Chinese financial hub in more than seven decades.
Zhejiang, Jiangsu evacuate residents as Typhoon Bebinca lands in east China
