Official Statement Ministry of Emergency Management of the People’s Republic of China

Honorable Chair
Honorable Ms. Mami Mizutori,
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
Ladies and gentlemen

Please allow me to begin, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, by extending my warm congratulations on the convening of the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and my sincere gratitude to the organizers of this conference, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the hosting Government of Indonesia and Bali, as well as all relevant institutions and individuals who have contributed to the preparation of this conference.

Since the 6th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2019, the international community has advanced the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 with remarkable progress achieved, to which the UNDRR has made active efforts and important contributions. The Chinese government highly appreciates it.

China is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Since the last conference, the Chinese government has continued to adhere to the people-centered development philosophy and the concept of putting people and their lives first, insisted on integrating development with security, strengthened bottom-line thinking, enhanced awareness of risks, accelerated disaster risk reduction to create a safe and stable social environment for economic and social development, and strive to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: First, the law and regulation system is improved. We have accelerated the legislation on disaster reduction, organized the development of national disaster reduction plans, and revised the National General Emergency Response Plan and response plans for specific emergencies. Second, the institutional mechanism is strengthened. We have enhanced the integration of unified management and divided responsibility as well as prevention and relief of natural disasters, and undertaken more systematic, holistic and synergistic disaster reduction effort in a comprehensive way. Third, the significant achievement has been made in implementation of key disaster reduction projects. We have launched the first National Comprehensive Risk Survey of Natural Disaster Risks, and successfully implemented major projects such as water conservancy upgrading for flood control and drought relief, housing facilities reinforcement in earthquake-prone areas, comprehensive management of geological hazards, and relocation of residents to avoid underlying risks. Fourth, major natural disasters are effectively responded. We have carried out rescue and relief in a scientific and efficient way, effectively responded to the 2019 large-scale landslide in Shuicheng Guizhou, the 2020 severe flooding across the country and the 2021 severe autumn flooding, as well as a number of severe typhoons, forest fires and other major disasters, to protect the basic livelihood of the affected people and ensure the successful recovery and reconstruction. Fifth, international cooperation is actively promoted. We have implemented the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, promoted the building of a global shared development community, established the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management which is highly aligned with relevant international strategies and initiatives. We have actively participated in the cooperation and activities under the framework of the United Nations, and 0449-0502advanced more pragmatical cooperation with regional organizations including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and ASEAN and expanded exchanges and cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries.

Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen

In recent years, climate change, biodiversity loss, aggravated desertification and frequent extreme weather events, coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have posed new situations and challenges to all countries in terms of disaster reduction. In the future, the Chinese government will continue to follow the instructions of President Xi Jinping on disaster reduction, promote the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, continuously improve China's comprehensive capacity for disaster reduction, and make new contributions to global disaster reduction efforts. First, we will strengthen resource coordination, improve the collaborative working system of disaster reduction, and deepen the reform of the disaster reduction system and mechanism. Second, we will strengthen risk monitoring, assessment, disaster forecasting and early warning, enhance the integration of precaution plans, and organize more exercises and drills, and make utmost effort to prepare for major disasters and risks. Third, we will organize and implement a number of projects in disaster reduction infrastructure, research and development of technical equipment, and continue to consolidate and enhance the resilience to natural disasters. Fourth, we will guide and standardize the participation of social forces in disaster reduction activities, strengthen promotion and publicity of disaster prevention and mitigation knowledge, so as to enhance the public awareness and improve self-rescue and mutual-aid skills. At the same time, we will further deepen exchanges and cooperation with relevant countries and international and regional organizations, continue to improve Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management, strengthen international and inter-regional information exchange and sharing on disaster reduction policies, enhance coordination in response to major natural disasters, and carry out in-depth scientific and technological cooperation on the research of key technologies of disaster reduction, and make greater contributions to the comprehensive and healthy economic and social development across the world and the establishment of a safer and more harmonious society.

Thank you