Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Mr. Wang Daoxi, vice minister of emergency management

Mr. Zhou Tian, vice minister of emergency management and administrator of the National Fire and Rescue Administration

Mr. Huang Jinsheng, a member of the Party committee of the Ministry of Emergency Management and administrator of the National Mine Safety Administration

Mr. Wang Kun, a member of the Party committee of the Ministry of Emergency Management and administrator of the China Earthquake Administration

Chairperson:

Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Sept. 4, 2024

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO), as part of the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Wang Daoxi, vice minister of emergency management; Mr. Zhou Tian, vice minister of emergency management and administrator of the National Fire and Rescue Administration; Mr. Huang Jinsheng, a member of the Party committee of the Ministry of Emergency Management and administrator of the National Mine Safety Administration; and Mr. Wang Kun, a member of the Party committee of the Ministry of Emergency Management and administrator of the China Earthquake Administration. They will provide briefings on relevant developments and take your questions. 

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Wang for his introduction. 

Wang Daoxi:

Laides and gentlemen, good morning. 

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for your long-term interest in and support for emergency management work. Today, my colleagues and I will speak with you about how emergency management efforts have promoted high-quality development. 

Ensuring both development and security is a major principle underlying the governance of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Since the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of new conclusions on how to ensure high-quality development and greater security reinforce each other, as well as better safeguarding China's new pattern of development with new security architecture. In line with General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions as well as the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, we have prevented risks, ensured safety and maintained stability with an ever-present sense of responsibility. These efforts have led to a favorable security environment for high-quality economic and social development, which can be summarized in four respects:

First, we have prioritized prevention and maintained a stable security situation. With regards to effective prevention as a fundamental principle and leveraging the functions of the State Council's Work Safety Commission, we have focused on strengthening responsibility implementation and addressed root causes of workplace safety accidents, resolutely preventing major and serious accidents. We have clarified responsibilities across the entire chain for "one matter," launching special initiatives on gas safety and electric bicycle safety as well as clearing fire escape routes. Across the country, 12.32 million illegally installed burglar-proof windows and billboards have been dismantled or modified, and 6.48 million new charging ports have been added in existing residential complexes and open public spaces. We have put equal emphasis on strict law enforcement and regulation as well as enthusiastic guidance and services, offering more timely assistance to address urgent public concerns. For example, we have established a "paired-up assistance" mechanism for key regions, dispatched expert teams to key industries and proactively helped enterprises solve real problems early on to support their safe development. As of the end of August this year, compared to the same period last year, the total number of workplace safety accidents nationwide decreased by 25.7%, with major and serious accidents down by 45.5%.

Second, we have enhanced relevant systems, making rescue operations more efficient. A comprehensive committee for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief has been established, and efforts have been made to enhance across-the-board coordination for disaster response. We have created a mechanism of command and coordination by the national emergency response headquarters, and built up an interconnected emergency response information network. We have accelerated the development of a safety risk monitoring and early warning system, and refined emergency response plans to ensure preparedness. Last year, additional treasury bonds were issued to support post-disaster recovery and reconstruction as well as reinforce disaster prevention, mitigation and relief capacities, with natural disaster response enhancement projects vigorously implemented. This year, China experienced multiple instances of prolonged heavy rainfall, breaking several hydrological and meteorological records and causing severe disasters in some regions. In response, we organized extensive flood prevention and combating efforts, pre-allocated relief funds in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, and dispatched working groups to the front lines in order to provide guidance and assistance and resolutely win this tough battle. The China National Comprehensive Fire and Rescue Team worked tirelessly to rescue trapped individuals, demonstrating their essential role in emergency response and illustrating the true image of firefighters.

Third, we have focused on fortifying the foundation, significantly improving intrinsic safety. We have taken strengthening the foundation as a focus in our current emergency management work, addressing both the symptoms and root causes of problems. Maintaining order in accordance with the law, we have promoted the formulation and revision of several laws and regulations, including the Emergency Response Law and the Regulations on Coal Mine Safety. We have released a series of industry standards, integrating safety requirements into all stages including planning, project initiation, construction and operation. We have also adhered to promoting safety through advancements in science and technology, implementing the "smart emergency response" strategy. We have vigorously promoted mechanization and automation in high-risk industries to reduce the need for manual labor, leveraging information technology to drive emergency management modernization. Additionally, we have been committed to strengthening safety through quality workforce development. We have initiated an emergency response technology talent program and made great efforts to cultivate emergency management talent. At the same time, we have actively supported the development of community-level emergency management capacities, directing more resources and strengths to lower-level governments in order to reduce their burden while empowering them for emergency response.

Fourth, we uphold social co-governance, continuously strengthening safety by relying on the public. Development is for the people and relies on the people. We have fully mobilized enthusiasm across all sectors of society, encouraging widespread participation in public security management. We have regulated and guided the development of social emergency response teams and promoted the involvement of commercial insurance, credit supervision, and safety evaluation institutions in accident prevention and disaster relief, steadily bolstering collective prevention and control efforts. Since the beginning of this year, more than 310,000 public reports on workplace safety have been filed nationwide, with over 30 million yuan in rewards distributed. We have also publicly commended several exemplary cases where disaster information personnel successfully sounded alarms and organized evacuations to avoid danger. We have expanded various channels to cultivate a culture of safety, continuously intensified emergency knowledge popularization, and launched innovative initiatives such as Work Safety Month, Fire Safety Month, and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Awareness Week. Additionally, we've bolstered safety training for key personnel of enterprises in high-risk industries, aiming to ensure that everyone prioritizes safety and knows emergency response.

The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee outlined strategic arrangements to strengthen the national security system and improve public security governance mechanisms. These plans provide a clear direction and momentum for deepening reforms in emergency management. Moving forward, we will fully implement the spirit of the plenary session with a reform and innovation mindset, adhering to the principle of balancing development with security. Our priorities are to fortify systems, refine mechanisms, enhance grassroots capabilities, and boost overall capacity. We will actively promote the modernization of emergency management systems and capabilities. Our goal is to effectively transform the strategic deployment of further deepening reform comprehensively into practical actions that advance the reform and development of emergency management.

That's all for my introduction. My colleagues and I are now ready to answer your questions. Thank you!

Xing Huina:

The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before raising your questions.

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.

China Media Group:

We've noticed that following the reform and restructuring of the fire and rescue service, its functions have expanded and its responsibilities have increased, presenting many new challenges. How has the national comprehensive fire and rescue team advanced its organizational structure and enhanced its professional rescue capabilities in recent years? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

I would like to invite Mr. Zhou to answer this question.

Zhou Tian:

Thank you for your question. The functions of the nation's comprehensive fire and rescue service have significantly expanded since the reform and restructuring began. The annual number of emergency calls we responded to increased from 1.18 million in 2018 to 2.14 million in 2023, nearly doubling in five years. To meet these expanded responsibilities, we have faithfully implemented the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping. We've further advanced the development of our organizational structure based on China's specific conditions and enhanced our professional rescue capabilities to meet real-world needs. By doing so, we have effectively accelerated the integration, transformation and modernization of our fire and rescue service, significantly increasing our operational effectiveness.

To further advance our organizational structure, we have intensified the urban-rural fire and rescue network by planning and building fire and rescue stations, special-duty stations and government professional firefighting teams. We've also improved enterprises' professional firefighting teams and small-scale fire stations, while guiding localities to establish 24,000 new fire stations in towns and subdistricts, staffed by over 95,000 personnel. We have also formed mobile teams, dispatching over 4,900 servicemen to 20 provinces, achieving coverage across all provincial-level regions and enabling nationwide mobility for major disaster-relief efforts. We have established six state-level regional emergency response and rescue centers in Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Guangdong, Sichuan and Gansu provinces. These serve as regional aviation rescue bases, emergency supply centers, and elite rapid-response forces, meeting regional disaster and accident response needs. We have focused on strengthening specialized capabilities, establishing over 5,000 specialized rescue teams for scenarios such as high-rise buildings, underground facilities, large-span spaces, hazardous chemicals, earthquakes, water rescues, geological hazards, and ice and snow conditions. Special-duty teams, as well as fire and rescue units, have also been established and enhanced. Based on local needs, some localities have established specialized teams for mountain, ice field, and high-altitude rescues. We've also set up six cross-border forest firefighting and rescue units, as well as 12 special rescue corps. The operational areas of two aviation rescue teams, in Daqing and Kunming, now cover 10 provinces.

In terms of improving professional rescue capabilities, we have promoted the building of national, provincial and municipal earthquake and water rescue training bases, increased the training of special rescue talents and have trained more than 83,000 teachers and technical personnel. We have ramped up efforts to launch practical training as well as have held the fire and rescue professional skill competition for firefighters and the skill competition for fire rescue dogs. We have kept a close eye on both major disasters and extremely complex disasters, enhanced the sharing of information and the joint operation of forces, deepened on-site familiarization drills and expert-assisted decision-making, and have achieved integrated dispatch, command and coordinated emergency response. We have strengthened the application of new technological equipment, accelerated the upgrading of conventional equipment, promoted research and development of high-precision "trump card" equipment and intelligent equipment, as well as have developed practical application technology. Over the past five years, the professional rescue capabilities of our fire and rescue teams have steadily improved, especially in the rescue operations of major disasters and accidents such as the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted Jishishan county, Gansu province, the severe floods in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the dike breach at the lake levee in Tuanzhou township, Hunan province, demonstrating the central role of the main force of emergency rescue and the national team.

Next, we will regard combat capability as the criterion, and rally firefighting forces and shoulder firefighting responsibilities to protect people's lives and property and promote economic and social high-quality development. Thank you.

Red Star News:

Improving the seismic resistance of buildings is one of the effective ways to reduce damage from earthquake. We have noticed that the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) is organizing the compilation of a next-generation seismic ground motion parameter zonation map to provide national standards for construction and anti-seismic design. Could you please brief us on the details of this project? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

I will invite Mr. Wang Kun to answer this question.

Wang Kun:

Thank you for your question. China is a country prone to earthquake disasters and has a very complex geological structure, so the risk of seismic activity varies significantly from region to region. Seismic ground motion parameter zonation is the division of territories into several zones according to the degree of earthquake hazard, and to set different earthquake fortification requirements for each zone. The seismic zoning map mainly provides standards for the planning, site selection and earthquake fortification of general construction projects, as well as a basis for economic and social development planning, territorial space planning, urban and rural planning and the formulation of social preventive measures, as well as emergency preparedness and response.

China has developed five generations of seismic ground motion parameter zonation maps since 1957. The first three generations of seismic zoning maps were used as "references" and "basis," and the fourth and fifth generations were used as "mandatory national standards." Therefore, it can be seen here that our earthquake fortification requirements are constantly improving. In 2022, the CEA officially launched the compilation of a new-generation seismic zoning map. The new-generation seismic zoning map takes risk prevention as the overall objective, featuring "multi-probability, broadband, high precision and integration of land and sea." It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. At the same time, the revision of Seismic Ground Motion Parameter Zonation Map of China, a mandatory national standard, will commence. At present, all work is progressing smoothly. First, the collection and collation of basic data has been generally completed. I will elaborate here with some data. We have built a basic database containing 14,000 destructive earthquake catalogs, 230,000 small earthquake catalogs and 11,000 sets of strong vibration observation records of 1942 earthquakes in China and neighboring areas. Second, we have completed a national seismic tectonic environment analysis and potential seismic source division, as well as have carried out the construction of three-dimensional seismic source models in strong seismic zones, such as the Tangshan earthquake and the Tancheng earthquake. Third, we have established a series of key models such as seismic activity, seismic motion prediction and site seismic motion, and have built technical methods for seismic ground motion hazard calculations. Fourth, we have carried out integrated pilot projects with key models and technologies in representative areas such as the North China Plain as well as Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and have completed the seismic hazard calculations in pilot areas.

The new ground motion parameter zoning map is expected to improve the country's seismic safety standards, based on lessons from the 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Gansu's Jishishan, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Türkiye and the 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the Taiwan region's Hualien. For eastern China's supertall structures, densely populated large commercial complexes, and other facilities, we've placed greater emphasis on the effects of long-period ground motion and the amplification caused by deep sedimentary basin layers. In western China's regions with concentrated large fault zones, we've adopted a three-dimensional epicenter model and a corresponding ground motion model to more accurately assess seismic activity levels near active faults. In short, this new generation of zoning maps will give full play to scientific and technological innovation and the practical application of research outcomes. It will better serve earthquake resistance efforts in general construction projects and formulation of various response plans, while effectively supporting earthquake disaster risk identification, assessment, and the development of a more earthquake-resilient society. Thank you.

The Poster News APP:

At the beginning of this year, the Work Safety Committee of the State Council issued the Measures on Prevention and Containment of Major and Serious Workplace Accidents in Mines. Could you please provide an update on the implementation of these measures? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

Mr. Huang will answer your question.

Huang Jinsheng:

Thank you for your concern about mine safety. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Mine Safety Administration have prioritized implementing measures nationwide and carried out special campaigns on regulation learning, responsibility clarification, solid implementation and safety assurance. We asked relevant departments to bear their responsibilities and implement the measures precisely, which effectively promoted stable and improved safety conditions in the country's mines. No major or serious workplace accidents occurred in mines after the measures' introduction. Through the end of August, the number of workplace accidents in mines and the death toll from those accidents decreased by 25.6% and 31.99%, respectively.

In terms of safety responsibility, we refined tasks for responsible parties, clarifying 15 tasks for enterprises, 15 for supervision departments, 15 for state administration, and six for local Party committees and governments, and guided them in implementing these tasks.

In terms of disaster risk prevention and control, we published a list of 1,128 mines with serious disaster risks, conducted special inspections of hidden hazards at 2,122 mines and carried out specialized water damage prevention inspections at 821 mines. By doing so, we identified and addressed 11,257 major potential safety hazards. Additionally, evacuation protocols during extreme weather warnings, evacuating 130,000 miners. We spared no effort to prevent major disasters and accidents.

In terms of cracking down on illegal activities, we carried out special inspections targeting concealed workplaces in coal mines, suspending operations in 725 places nationwide. During a campaign targeting security monitoring system fraud, 291 enterprises were exposed, 3,582 enterprises and 8,533 people in charge of enterprises were admonished, and 399 people were prosecuted.

In terms of improving safety awareness, we organized video training courses on workplace safety in mines, with more than 13,000 people participating and more than 700,000 studying online. These efforts enhanced safety production awareness among workers.

In terms of national mine safety supervision, we conducted safety oversight in Shanxi and Heilongjiang provinces. This effort led to the implementation of 388 and 68 new regulatory measures in these provinces, respectively. The mine safety supervision system carried out 5,558 governmental oversight actions, issued 2,069 rectification letters and supervisory recommendations, and admonished 1,697 people, which showcased the significance of national supervision in mines.

Mining remains a crucial yet hazardous industry with significant safety challenges, given its inherent high risks and fragile foundation. Looking forward, we will follow the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. We will advance the reform and development of workplace safety in mines by solving problems in individual cases and across the whole industrial chain. Workplace safety improvements will ensure a stable and secure supply of energy and mineral resources, supporting the country's high-quality economic and social development. Thank you.

China News Service:

In 2018, the CEA launched the China Seismic Experimental Site (CSES) project to study earthquake formation patterns in the country. Could you please provide an update on the progress of this project? How has its construction leveraged the supportive role of seismic science and technology, and how is it helping to modernize earthquake prevention and disaster alleviation? Thank you.

Wang Kun:

Thank you for your interest. The International Conference for the Decade Memory of the Wenchuan Earthquake was held on May 12. 2018. President Xi Jinping sent a letter to the conference, emphasizing the importance of scientifically understanding the laws of disasters and effectively reducing disaster risks. The central government also announced the construction of the CSES at the conference. The CEA's leading Party members group has firmly implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's letter, along with the disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief concept of "Two Commitments and Three Shifts." We are committed to integrating preventive efforts with disaster resistance and relief measures, while balancing regular mitigation and non-regular relief operations. This concept emphasizes a shift from post-disaster relief to pre-disaster prevention, from addressing single types of disasters to comprehensive mitigation, and from merely reducing losses to minimizing risks. Keeping in line with socioeconomic requirements and market rules and relying on science and technology, the CEA has strived to fulfill the overall goals of facilitating earthquake prediction, ensuring energy security, improving the resilience of cities, and mitigating disaster chains. Drawing on both domestic and international experiences, we are sparing no efforts to advance the construction of the CSES. 

The CSES is a major sci-tech infrastructure project to be constructed during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and the world's only seismic research facility focused on systematic studies of strong continental earthquakes. In 2023, the budgetary estimates were approved, and construction is now in full swing. The plan is to build 1,769 observation stations across Sichuan and Yunnan. These stations will monitor seismic activity, ground deformation, geochemical changes, and gravity fluctuations. Once completed, the CSES will be able to identify potential earthquake sources that may induce 6.5-magnitude or stronger earthquakes in block boundary belts. 

While constructing the CSES, we've insisted on delivering outcomes and providing services. Since 2018, the project has produced 15 scientific results, such as high-precision velocity structure models and Mohorovičić discontinuity models. We collaborated with the University of Science and Technology of China to launch the world's first AI-powered earthquake monitoring system, capable of accurately estimating earthquake source mechanism parameters within one second. We've also developed an AI-based automatic earthquake cataloging system, which triples the efficiency of manual work. We recently partnered with the National Supercomputing Center in Chengdu, Tsinghua University and other institutions to release the world's first large-scale seismic wave model with over 100 million parameters. These achievements provide crucial sci-tech support for enhancing smart earthquake monitoring and prediction, as well as modernizing earthquake prevention and disaster mitigation efforts.

We are prioritizing openness and cooperation in the CSES's construction and operation. Scientists from 13 countries, including the U.S., Russia, the Netherlands, Egypt, and Algeria, have contributed to the CSES's scientific research. Research universities, such as Peking University, the University of Science and Technology of China, and the Southern University of Science and Technology, have collaborated with the provincial governments of Sichuan and Yunnan in the construction of the project. Over 3,000 experts from China and abroad have attended the CSES annual conferences for exchanges in recent years, enhancing the project's academic influence. 

China aims to become the global leader in earthquake science and technology by 2035. To achieve this goal, Chinese seismologists will uphold and advance the scientific spirit, develop the CSES into a global hub for seismology and international cooperation in earthquake science and technology, as well as a global talent pool in this field. Efforts will be intensified to enhance China's self-reliance and strength in earthquake science and technology, facilitating Chinese modernization by providing high-standard earthquake safety services. Thank you. 

Cover News:

What measures have been taken to tackle hidden fire safety risks in key sectors while promoting a preemptive approach to public security governance? What progress has been made? What do you plan to do next? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

Mr. Zhou will answer these questions.

Zhou Tian:

Thank you for the questions. Fire safety is a crucial component of public security and directly impacts people's daily lives and work. We consistently uphold the principle of "people-first, life-first," closely monitoring key areas and critical links and implementing effective measures to address hidden fire safety risks. 

In terms of formulating regulations and standards, we strengthened efforts to address problems at their source and improved fire safety-related regulations and standards. We issued 23 sets of fire safety regulations, including those on the management of social fire protection technical services, fire safety management in high-rise civil buildings, and trial measures for fire safety management in leased factories and warehouses. We ensured the implementation of fire safety-related responsibilities and made strict and clear requirements regarding fire safety management. In collaboration with market regulation and urban-rural development authorities, we issued 68 national standards and 35 industry-specific standards for fire safety. These include the general code for fire protection of buildings and constructions, guidelines for preparing and implementing firefighting and emergency evacuation plans for workplaces, and rules for fire safety management in large-scale commercial complexes, providing technical support for social fire safety management. 

Regarding specialized rectification, we have adopted a "whole-chain" supervision method to address pressing real-world issues, continuously advancing concentrated efforts to rectify safety hazards related to electric bicycles and fire protection products. Concurrently, we have inspected 955,000 high-rise buildings and addressed 488,800 identified hazards. We have advanced standardized fire safety management in large commercial complexes exceeding 50,000 square meters and checked risks in labor-intensive enterprises within industrial parks, factories and mixed-use business sites with multiple operations and ownerships. We launched a campaign to clear fire escape routes and addressed over 3.76 million issues related to blocked evacuation passages, emergency exits and fire lanes.

In terms of public awareness education and training, we have intensified our efforts to promote fire safety education in businesses, rural areas, communities, schools and homes. For example, we organized summer fire safety campaigns and livestreamed fire safety classes for primary and middle schools. We also partnered with postal departments to distribute fire safety materials to households. To address issues like the illegal transfer of contracts, subcontracting, unauthorized hot work, unsafe operations and chaotic on-site management, we produced three specialized fire safety training videos for manufacturing plants, medical institutions and dining establishments. These videos were widely distributed to relevant organizations for training purposes.

To empower organizations to better manage their own fire safety, we have developed fire prevention guidelines, inspection instructions and management regulations tailored to new sectors and emerging industries. We have provided model inspection training, on-site guidance, appointment-based training services and follow-up technical assistance to improve organizations' capabilities in identifying, checking and rectifying fire hazards. We have focused on high-risk areas such as small-scale businesses, mixed-use facilities, and densely populated areas. In these areas, we have focused on key personnel and emergency response teams in organizations, and conducted large-scale fire safety drills, promoting knowledge and skills needed for fire prevention and self-rescue.

Moving forward, we will continue to enhance our public safety system and strengthen our fire safety management capabilities. We aim to develop a comprehensive fire safety work method that involves various departments and encourages public participation. These efforts are designed to support and facilitate high-quality social and economic development. Thank you for your attention.

China Emergency Management News:

Developing intelligent mine is crucial in promoting high-quality development in the mining industry. What progress has China made in developing intelligent mines? What measures will be taken in the future? Thank you.

Huang Jinsheng:

Thank you for your interest in intelligent mine construction, which is a specific measure for implementing important proposals put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding new quality productive forces. It also serves as a crucial means of shifting mine safety management towards a more proactive and preventive approach. In recent years, we have implemented a series of measures and introduced many policies to foster significant advancements in intelligent mine construction. 

To enhance top-level design, this April, the National Mine Safety Administration, in conjunction with the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education, issued the Guidelines on Accelerating Intelligent Mine Development and Enhancing Mine Safety. This document provides a systematic plan from a top-level design perspective.

To strengthen technological innovation, we have approved the establishment of five key laboratories related to intelligent mines under the National Mine Safety Administration. We have coordinated to list five projects, such as intelligent tunneling and open-pit autonomous mining, in key national research and development programs. We have also advanced collaboration among mine enterprises, equipment enterprises, universities, and research institutes and achieved breakthroughs in research of key technologies and equipment.

To ensure standard-led development, we have released a system framework for intelligent mine standards and guided relevant departments to set up and revise related standards and specifications. We have issued a specification for intelligent mine data fusion and sharing, which has broken down data silos and eliminated information barriers.

In terms of increasing policy incentives, we have promoted support with approved increase of coal production capacity, the standardization of workplace safety, the central government budget for investment and the withdrawal and use of enterprise workplace safety expenses, and have advanced the inclusion of intelligent equipment in the scope of support for large-scale equipment renewal.

In terms of adhering to demonstration and guidance, we have worked with the National Energy Administration to launch the construction of intelligent demonstration coal mines and have worked with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to solicit and announce two batches of 92 typical application scenarios for mining robots. In recent years, a number of typical cases have emerged, such as the Yujialiang Coal Mine of CHN Energy, the Dahaize Coal Mine of China Coal Group, the Sanshandao Gold Mine of Shandong Gold Group and the Xingshan Iron Mine of Shougang Mining Corporation.

With joint efforts from all parties, positive progress has been made in the intelligent construction of mines. By far, the country has built 1,642 intelligent mining workings, the number of coal mines with intelligent workings has reached 859, with over 30 kinds of 2,640 robots and 1,328 unmanned vehicles in use, as well as 17,000 fixed positions achieving unmanned operations.

In the next step, we will continue to offer more support in terms of policy standards, scientific and technological innovation as well as the application of demonstration, so as to advance the intelligent construction of mines to a new level and to lay an important foundation for the intrinsic safety of mines. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

One last question, please.

Phoenix Satellite Television:

As we all know, this year, affected by extreme weather, many areas in China have been hit by rainstorms and floods, with some areas seriously affected. What targeted measures have been adopted by the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief and the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) in regards to disaster relief and assistance? What appropriate arrangements and assistance have disaster victims received? Thank you.

Wang Daoxi:

Thanks to the reporter from Phoenix Satellite Television for your concern and attention to flood prevention and resistance and disaster relief. As you mentioned, this year's climate trends deviated from the average level of normal years. There were many heavy rainfalls, lasting for extended periods of time. Flooding of rivers occurred early and developed rapidly. Floods, hailstorms and geological disasters severely affected a wide range of areas and caused heavy losses to certain areas. Therefore, the task of disaster relief and assistance is very arduous. To ensure that disaster victims receive appropriate arrangements and assistance, the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief and the MEM have mainly taken the following targeted measures, which can be summarized as "three focuses."

First, we have focused on disaster prediction and activated disaster relief responses in an efficient and orderly manner. Before the flood season, we have actively advanced the building of a disaster relief planning system, strengthened the professional training of disaster relief and disaster information delivery teams, enhanced the pre-positioning of disaster relief materials to the front line of rural areas and have improved the disaster relief and assistance capacity at the grassroot level. During disasters, we have predicted development trends of disasters as well as needs for disaster relief and assistance, activating disaster relief emergency response in advance. The national disaster relief response has been activated for a total of 21 times this year. After disasters, we have dynamically adjusted response levels according to changes in disaster situations and have upgraded response levels for five times, especially in response to the disaster situation in Hunan, we promptly upgraded the disaster relief response to the second level. We have given a coordinating role to the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief, stepped up joint consultations and assessments and have organized and dispatched joint working groups to key cities and counties deeply affected by disasters and facing difficulties in relief efforts to offer guidance and help for disaster relief and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. Overall, our response to disaster relief has become more timely, more frequent and involves more practical measures, continuing to send a strong signal that "the country is in action."

Second, we have focused on the needs of disaster-hit areas and quickly allocated central disaster relief funds and materials. Since the beginning of the flood season, we have worked with the Ministry of Finance to allocate nine batches of 3.125 billion yuan for central disaster relief funds in advance, which fully ensures the urgent need for disaster relief with higher allocation efficiency and greater support for disaster relief. We have also coordinated central and local reserve resources and worked with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration to allocate 21 batches of 473,200 pieces of central disaster relief materials, including folding beds, bedding and family emergency kits, to meet the needs of the public at the different stages of temporary refuge, relocation and transitional resettlement. In response to disaster conditions in various areas and urgent needs of the people, we have repeatedly activated the government-society coordinated support mechanism for emergency supplies and have allocated a large supply of food, daily necessities and other scarce materials to better ensure people's basic livelihood. 

Third, we have focused on key links and have worked at the front line to strengthen supervision and guidance. We have organized a number of inspection groups, expert groups and steering groups to coordinate and resolve difficulties and problems on the spot, publicized and explained assistance policies face to face and guided local governments to carry out disaster relief and assistance work. In particular, we have paid close attention to the management and services of resettlement sites, guided the orderly organization of material distribution and have strived to ensure basic necessities such as food and lodging for disaster victims, especially ensuring that there is food, water, clothing, temporary safe shelter and access to timely medical treatment. In addition, we have also coordinated to provide medical, cultural and psychological services to help disaster victims feel secure and comfortable. We have also seen in many resettlement sites that in spite of suffering disasters, the people have actively helped themselves and each other, and some have even willingly participated in volunteer services, which is very touching. At present, the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction work is in rapid progress, including emergency repair of infrastructure in disaster-hit areas and reconstruction and repair of collapsed and damaged housing. We will continue to follow up and strengthen guidance. I believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, disaster-hit areas will promptly be rebuilt into beautiful homes! Thank you!

Xing Huina:

Well, today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thanks to all speakers and friends from the media. Goodbye everyone.

Translated and edited by Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Wei, Liu Caiyi, Liu Sitong, Li Xiao, Ma Yujia, Yan Bin, Yuan Fang, Lin Liyao, Zhang Junmian, Liu Qiang, Xu Kailin, Liu Jianing, Li Huiru, Rochelle Beiersdorfer, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.