The 2025 Belt and Road Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management was held on November 6 in Sanya, Hainan Province. Zhang Guoqing, Vice Premier of the State Council and the member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. 

Zhang Guoqing noted that disaster prevention and mitigation are an enduring theme for the survival and development of humankind. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that human understanding of the laws of nature is endless, and that scientifically recognizing the laws governing disasters, effectively reducing disaster risks, and realizing harmony between humanity and nature require joint efforts of the international community. 

Zhang stressed that China always puts people and life first, and has consistently implemented the concept of “Two Persistences and Three Transformations” in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. The country has continuously strengthened its disaster prevention, mitigation and relief capabilities, and through practical actions such as dispatching international rescue teams and providing emergency relief materials, has contributed China’s strength to international cooperation in disaster risk reduction. 

He said that China stands ready to work with all parties to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, to further develop relevant cooperation mechanisms, enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, advance scientific and technological empowerment for disaster risk reduction, strengthen international response to major disasters, and build a closely connected security network that transcends borders, mountains and seas, to jointly safeguard a beautiful home for humanity. 

The conference, themed “A Shared Future: Establishing a Rapid and Efficient Emergency Response and Rescue Mechanism,” brought together representatives from emergency management departments of 36 countries, 11 international organizations, and experts and scholars in the field of emergency management.