Chinese Vice-Premier Hui
Liangyu stressed that China should learn from foreign
countries' experience in taking precautions against
earthquakes.
"We should learn from the lessons of Indian Ocean's tsunami to
improve our early warning, defending, rescuing and coordinating
abilities in anti-earthquake work," Hui said at a work meeting in
Beijing Thursday.
Hui, also head of the state disaster relief commission, made
these remarks after listening to experts speak about current
anti-earthquake work. They also watched a short documentary about
the work of the Chinese International Rescue Teams in the
tsunami-hit countries.
Hui stressed that while strengthening anti-earthquake work in
big cities, more attention should be given to the work in rural
areas.
China must establish a test ground for forecasting and
monitoring earthquakes and a system to tackle with emergencies and
potential mishaps, Hui said.
Meanwhile, China should further raise the awareness of
earthquakes in its people and have more international exchanges and
cooperation in anti-earthquake work, Hui added.
(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2005)