The state propaganda machine has decided to turn the floods to President Jiang Zemin's advantage, using them to maximise his leadership in the party and PLA, and to boost national leadership.
The decision was taken at a national propaganda meeting of the mainland's major news organisations which ended yesterday in Beijing.
Propaganda tsar Ding Guangen has instructed news cadres to use reports to promote Mr Jiang's statesmanship in battling the floods.
'We should focus on how the soldiers and civilians rallied together and united to fight floods under the strategic planning of President Jiang,' Xinhua said.
'The spirit of Mr Jiang's speeches should be exemplified,' said Mr Ding.
Reports must put more emphasis on 'grand co-operation, grand unity, the supremacy of socialism and self-reliance of the masses', the news agency said.