To implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the China-Central Asia Summit, the China-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting on Emergency Management was held in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on May 30, 2024, at which the establishment of the China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation Mechanism was officially announced.
Wang Xiangxi, Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) of China presided over the meeting and delivered a keynote speech, and Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang delivered a speech.
Wang Xiangxi said that in May last year, President Xi Jinping and heads of state of Central Asian countries co-signed the Xi'an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit, providing fundamental guidelines and action guidelines for the establishment of China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation Mechanism.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to emergency management. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Central Asian countries, solid foundation has been laid for bilateral and multilateral cooperation on emergency management with fruitful results.
The China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation Mechanism is a major move and a new platform for deepening mutually beneficial practical cooperation among the six countries. China is ready to take this meeting as an opportunity to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties and seriously implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the six countries on exchanges and cooperation in the field of emergency management. We should strengthen institutional coordination, coordinate emergency relief, carry out "small but nice" cooperation projects, improve communication channels, promote steady and long-term emergency management cooperation among the six countries, and contribute to the building of an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future with concrete actions.
Vice Minister of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan, First Vice Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of Tajikistan, Commander of the General Directorate of Civil Defence and Rescue and concurrent Vice Minister of Defence of Turkmenistan, and Minister of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan delivered speeches respectively. They expressed appreciation and support for the establishment of China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation Mechanism. Upon working together actively, they are willing to deepen mutual understanding, align cooperation needs, build consensus for action, jointly improve emergency management capacity, and contribute to regional peace and stability.
The theme of the meeting is "Jointly pursue safe development with traditional friendship". All parties signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation Mechanism, adopted the Action Plan on China-Central Asia Emergency Management Cooperation (2024-2026), and announced the setup of a China-Central Asia Emergency Management Working Group.
After the meeting, Wang Xiangxi met with the delegations of the five countries respectively to exchange in-depth views on strengthening bilateral cooperation. During their stay in Urumqi, the delegations would also observe emergency rescue exercises for firefighting and oil & gas pipeline accidents and visit rescue equipment.
