Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping has called for full preparations for possible flooding in Guangxi while urging the region to step up drought relief work.

After suffering a severe drought that left more than 20 million people short of water since August last year, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is embracing its flood season.

A rain-triggered landslide has already killed three people, including a 5-year-old child, in the region, authorities announced Monday.

"We should step up the drought relief work, and at the same time make full preparations to prevent possible flooding in a bid to ensure the safety of local people," said Xi, also a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Xi made the remarks during his three-day visit to Guangxi from May 9 to 11.

Visiting aluminum and pharmaceutical companies, Xi stressed independent technology innovation for local companies to make them more competitive.

He also urged local authorities to take advantage of the region's geographical location of being a coastal area and adjacent to the ASEAN countries to expand markets.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2010)