Minister WANG Xiangxi

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

It is a great honour to be invited to speak at this important meeting of cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction during the 10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 25th Anniversary of the Comprehensive and friendly Bilateral Relations between South Africa and China. 

South Africa remains committed to the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Climate change is a major contributor to disasters in South Africa and our region is Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) as well as African continent. It results in hazards such as droughts, floods, tropical cyclones, storms, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, and epidemics such as Malaria, Cholera, foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax. The COVID 19 pandemic added salt to the wound. Despite ongoing progress to extend essential services to poor urban and rural communities, the rapid movement of people from the region and rural areas to urban areas force them to settle in conditions of chronic disaster vulnerability such as underserved, ecologically fragile and affected by frequent drought, fires or floods. In addition, South Africa’s extensive coastline and proximity to shipping routes present numerous marine and coastal threats. Similarly, our shared borders with six southern African neighbours present both natural and human-induced cross-boundary risks, as well as humanitarian assistance obligations in times of emergency.

In this regard South Africa is implementing the Integrated Public Awareness Strategy to encourage risk avoidance behaviour by all role players across three spheres of government: especially in schools and in communities known to be at risk. We have established national, provincial and local disaster management centers to coordinate swift responses to disasters and build resilience to hazards. The South African National Disaster Management Centre continues to:

• Develop and enhance early warning systems for weather and climate and disseminate information to vulnerable communities,

• Maintain and update our Risk and Vulnerability atlas, 

• Establish research centers to support municipalities and provinces,

• Facilitate the utilization of seasonal climate forecasts among key stakeholders such as water and agriculture sectors.

• Facilitate regional collaboration to share early warning systems with regional applications and benefits.

All these measures are the foundation of our 2020 National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy whose objective is to build resilience and adaptive capacity to respond to climate change and associated risks. 

International cooperation is crucial in efforts to enhance our resilience and capacity. It assists us in capacity building, research sharing, training and in humanitarian assistance. The fundamental objective of effective disaster response and recovery management is to collect and channel resources optimally. South Africa must tap into the extensive expertise and resources of international agencies. At the same time, and as a matter of priority, it must establish appropriate protocols to clarify procedures for requesting external assistance and to discourage ad hoc and unsolicited appeals for relief. 

A final aspect of South Africa’s activities in the international community is its capacity to help in the field of humanitarian aid. Currently, because of the country’s limited resources, this capacity is focused on the SADC region. Nevertheless, assistance from outside the region will be considered in the context of the circumstances prevailing at the time. All appeals for assistance must be directed to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. 

We acknowledge change is a global disaster which requires global response and cooperation. South Africa supports the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management (BRIDRREM). We are willing cooperation and explore cooperative projects under this framework. 

It is through the strengthening of exchanges and mutual understanding, practical cooperation, and capacity building for disaster risk reduction and emergency management, that we may effectively reduce disaster and accident risks faced by the international community and contribute to the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative for the joint building of a community of shared future for mankind.

As developing countries, we bear the brunt of climate change and associated disasters. We must

• reaffirm commitment to the objectives of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

• Reaffirm the commitments made towards collaboration in disaster management as Belt and Road partners, with a particular focus on the four priorities of action highlighted in the Sendai Framework.

China and South Africa must work together to deepen and enhance the cooperation both under the Bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and under BRICS. We must focus on sharing and conducting joint research, training, capacity building and building a resilient global community with a shared future for mankind.

I wish the forum a great success.

I thank you.