Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have ordered local governments to protect lives and ensure safety in their efforts to deal with floods and relief work.

Instructions issued by the central government said flood relief work had entered a crucial stage and all-out efforts should be made to fight the floods.

People's lives and safety should be ensured and those affected by floods should be relocated and properly resettled in a timely manner, said the instructions.

While repairing flood-damaged infrastructure, governments would intensify investment in water conservancy projects, especially in harnessing small and medium-sized rivers, preventing and controlling mountain torrents and reinforcing reservoirs, said the instructions.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged local governments in a meeting of government officials on Monday to carry out the instructions for the sake of agricultural harvests and steady economic growth.

Hui said floods had affected autumn harvests and remedial measures were needed to restore agricultural production in flood-affected areas.

More rains were expected to hit the Hanjiang River valley, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and northeast China, while typhoon risks were growing, adding to the severe situation and arduous relief work, Hui said.

Hui said flood relief supplies must be allocated promptly to guarantee people's basic needs.