BEIJING: As natural disasters become a growing pain on the globe, cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries (PICs) in disaster risk reduction has made significant progress.
China and the PICs established the Center for Disaster Risk Reduction Cooperation in February 2023 in Jiangmen City, south China’s Guangdong Province. It is the first multilateral cooperation platform run by China and the PICs, with focus on disaster prevention and mitigation. The center aims to provide the PICs with disaster risk monitoring, early warning technology, services, and support related to post-disaster emergency materials and rescue operations. It has made significant progress in achieving its goals since its establishment.
“We have conducted training for the PICs, with about 40 officials from disaster management departments across nine countries participating in the program,” Wang Chunyang, executive dean of the Pacific Island Countries Research Institute, told CGTN. “We also researched the types of natural disasters and disaster prevention and mitigation efforts in the PICs,” she added.
The PICs are mostly along a volcanic and seismic belt, making typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis. Natural disasters often last for long periods, sometimes exceeding 100 days. Researchers at the center have developed plans for both before and after a disaster.
“We use meteorological satellites and other related technologies to provide early warnings before a disaster,” said Huang Hui, a Pacific Island Countries Research Institute researcher.
“After a disaster, we focus on coordinating and managing supplies and logistics through big data technology and establishing emergency stations in affected areas,” Huang said.
Through cooperation, the center hopes to jointly address natural disasters, risks and other challenges, safeguard people’s property, and provide valuable experience for international disaster prevention and humanitarian efforts. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
