The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) is building a
system that will protect policyholders against losses from natural
disasters. Its focus is on coverage for earthquake damage to
residential properties, said Liu Jingsheng, an official with the
commission.
Natural catastrophes have caused losses averaging nearly US$18
million per day so far this year.
"China has yet to forge a sophisticated and complete catastrophe
insurance system," said Liu. "The commission has enacted and
revised some regulations and is coordinating with other agencies to
secure maximum fiscal and taxation support for the formation of
such a system."
CIRC expects to have the insurance framework complete within two
or three years, according to Liu, who was speaking at the three-day
International Conference on Continental Earthquakes. More than 240
experts from 42 countries gathered in Beijing to discuss emergency
management and insurance.
The meeting is scheduled to end Wednesday.
CIRC has invited insurance companies from Japan, the United
States, Australia and Europe to share their experience and
expertise on catastrophe insurance. The commission is also
encouraging domestic insurers to expand collaboration with their
foreign counterparts, and is introducing reinsurance brokers,
earthquake model management companies and agricultural
insurers.
Widely regarded as one of the most disaster-prone countries in
the world, China frequently feels the rough side of Mother Nature.
Earthquakes, floods and typhoons occur frequently.
Economic losses have reached 28.5 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion)
so far this year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs reported yesterday.
That translates into average daily losses of at least 147 million
yuan (US$17.7 million).
Currently, rebuilding after disasters is mostly financed by the
State and donations. But demand for catastrophe insurance is
enormous in China, Liu said. However, commercial insurance
companies cannot afford to offer catastrophe insurance, given the
risks and extent of losses such policies cover. Official policy
support is crucial to developing the system.
Largely due to lack of policy support, China's commercial
insurers employ a prudent underwriting strategy, with some
declining to offer property insurance or offering it
conditionally."
"But people need such insurance, especially in quake-prone rural
areas," said Du Wei, a China Seismological Bureau director.
While government disaster relief usually covers only
infrastructure and some damage to houses, residents are
increasingly calling for their property to be protected as
well.
With the backing of official policy, CIRC, together with Du's
bureau and the Ministry of Finance, is putting the final touches on
an earthquake-damage property insurance scheme. Liu said the plan
features low premium rates and wide coverage.
Li Hong, also with the China Seismological Bureau, said
insurance against earthquakes should eventually cover enterprises
as well as individuals.
Liu said the catastrophe insurance system in the pipeline would
allow regulators to identify and approve insurers' catastrophe
reserves through fiscal policies. Tax incentives for insurance
companies that will allow them to accumulate such reserves are also
being developed.
"These arrangements will raise insurers' awareness of
catastrophes and help form a risk control system to ensure timely
compensation in event of need," Liu said.
(China Daily July 14, 2004)