The First China-CELAC Ministerial Forum for Disaster Management Cooperation successfully held

To follow through the consensus of the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China and the Argentina International Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance Agency co-hosted the First China-CELAC Ministerial Forum for Disaster Management Cooperation via video link on 25 August. Mr. WANG Xiangxi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Mr. Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Ms Sabina Frederic, President of the Argentina International Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance Agency and representatives of the disaster management authorities of 21 other CELAC member states attended the Forum and issued a joint statement, officially launching the China-CELAC disaster management cooperation mechanism. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR Mami Mizutori delivered a video message.

Wang Xiangxi pointed out that, as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, China attaches great importance to disaster risk reduction. Since its establishment, China's Ministry of Emergency Management has thoroughly implemented President Xi Jinping's important instructions on disaster risk reduction by upholding people-centered development philosophy and the principle of "people first, life first", promoting the modernization of its emergency management system and capacity and responding to all kinds of disaster risks with all-out efforts, which has contributed to the protection of people's lives and property and sustainable economic and social development.

Wang Xiangxi said that China is actively implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and developing the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management to help improve global disaster governance system. As China and CELAC member states are all seriously affected by natural disasters, strengthening cooperation is of great significance for all to improve disaster management capacity. China, taking this Forum as the starting point, stands ready to work with CELAC member states to further strengthen practical cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation, major disaster response and innovation in emergency science and technology, in order to help build a China-CELAC community of shared future.

Cafiero said that disaster management cooperation is an important part of the long-term China-CELAC friendly cooperation. Both should further play the role of China-CELAC Forum to deepen cooperation in disaster management and facilitate the high-quality development of overall China-CELAC cooperation. Frederic emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Therefore, CELAC member states are willing to deepen practical cooperation with China to jointly address disaster challenges and improve disaster management capacity. The participating CELAC member states made introduction to their own national policies and practices in disaster risk reduction and unanimously expressed their interest to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in disaster management with China.

Xu Jia'ai, Member of the CPC Committee and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Qiong Se, Member of the CPC Committee and Head of the Fire and Rescue Department of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Zhao Fengtao, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, heads of relevant departments and bureaus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Management, representatives of the Chinese embassies to the participating CELAC countries and the embassies of the participating LAC countries to China attended the Forum as well.