China.org.cn | September 29, 2024
N Video from Nanfang Metropolis Daily:
The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has made strategic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively and set forth specific emergency management reform requirements. What measures will the Ministry of Emergency Management take to implement these requirements and further enhance the capacity and level of high-quality development?
Wang Daoxi:
Thank you for your question. I will answer it. The resolution from the plenary session includes a dedicated chapter on advancing the modernization of the national security system and capacity, as well as a specific section on improving public security governance mechanisms. This represents a major strategic initiative to implement a holistic national security approach. It aims to balance development with security and address major risks and challenges, thereby ensuring steady and sustained progress in the cause of the Party and the country. Based on the full implementation of the plenary session's decisions and plans, we will focus on three key areas:
First, we will focus on enhancing our rescue and relief capabilities. We are accelerating the integration and reform of national comprehensive fire and rescue teams to improve the response and support system for major public emergencies. We aim to quickly establish six regional rescue centers in northeast, north, central, southeast, southwest and northwest China, creating key powerful forces tailored to each region's disaster characteristics. To meet practical demands under extreme conditions such as road blockages, network failures, and power outages, we are increasing the development and deployment of advanced specialized equipment for aerial rescue, water rescue, personnel search and rescue, emergency communications, and engineering disaster response. We are also improving mechanisms for rapid allocation and delivery of disaster relief supplies to meet the diverse needs of affected populations, particularly for older people, women and children. Our goal is to ensure that rescue and relief efforts are not only swift but also compassionate. To refine the emergency response command mechanisms under the overall safety and emergency response framework, we will expedite the revision and issuance of the National Emergency Management System Plan and related specialized plans. This will further strengthen the Party's leadership and command in emergency management, clarify the responsibilities of relevant departments, and better ensure the optimization, coordination and efficiency of various forces and resources. At the national level, we have already established the emergency command headquarters. We will guide local authorities in building robust emergency command centers at the provincial, municipal and county levels, complemented by improved communication networks and information systems. This will enhance the comprehensiveness, systematization and professionalism of emergency command operations.
Second, we will focus on improving the quality of risk prevention. To enhance the mechanisms for identifying and addressing workplace safety risks and for conducting retroactive liability investigations, we will continuously optimize criteria for determining major hidden dangers. We'll improve long-term mechanisms for expert and specialized technical service organizations to participate in risk identification and mitigation, standardizing and professionalizing the process. We will also help enterprises establish and enhance regular self-inspection and hazard mitigation mechanisms, encouraging proactive risk identification and prevention to ensure safe development. Additionally,, we will intensify efforts to ensure the fulfillment of investigation and rectification responsibilities. This includes improving local government oversight systems for major accident risk prevention, and establishing mechanisms for relevant departments to review and approve the resolution of risk warnings. Entities that fail to investigate and rectify obvious major risks, especially those causing significant casualties, will be held accountable in accordance with laws and regulations.
Third, we will focus on strengthening our efforts at the primary level. In February, guidelines on enhancing primary-level emergency management capabilities were approved at the fourth meeting of the Commission for Further Reform under the CPC Central Committee. We are now swiftly modifying and improving these guidelines in line with the meeting's requirements and the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. After the guidelines are released, we will work with relevant departments to implement them thoroughly. We'll continuously enhance primary-level emergency management organizations' capabilities for command, risk prevention, practical response, emergency handling, and ensuring supplies and resources. By doing so, we will strengthen the first line of defense in emergency management. The first national comprehensive natural disaster risk survey has provided a clear picture of the hidden hazards across the country. We will continue to utilize the information gathered by the survey, controlling risks at their source and promoting meticulous risk management. These efforts will constantly improve comprehensive disaster reduction capacity at the primary level. Thank you.