China to enhance int'l cooperation in disaster relief
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The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) hopes to enhance exchange and cooperation with their counterparts in other countries to ensure effective and coordinated relief work in cases of natural disaster, a Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday.
"When facing major natural disasters, enhanced international cooperation is a must," Geng Yansheng, the ministry's new spokesman, told a press conference two days ahead of the 83rd founding anniversary of the PLA, on Aug. 1.
Stressing the important role the army, armed police and militia play in domestic disaster relief operations, Geng said the PLA has about 50,000 troops to deal with emergencies such as floods, earthquakes and nuclear and biochemical incidents.
Close to 1 million army soldiers and armed police, together with 4.5 million militiamen, have been mobilized since 2009 for disaster relief work when floods, earthquakes, droughts, typhoons and forest fires occurred, according to Geng.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government and the PLA have established a mechanism to deliver humanitarian relief supplies to other countries, Geng said.
Since 2002, the Chinese government and the PLA have delivered about 80 million U.S. dollars of humanitarian relief supplies to 19 countries, he said.
The Chinese International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR) founded in 2001 consists of engineer troops, armed police medical staff and experts from the China Earthquake Administration, Geng said, adding that it has already carried out six overseas rescue operations.
According to Huang Jianfa, an official in charge of international relief operations at the China Earthquake Administration, the 230-member CISAR will be expanded to a 480-strong team by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Geng Yansheng said the PLA has actively participated in international exchange and cooperation related to disaster relief work.
He said Beijing will host with Thailand next month an ASEAN Regional Forum seminar on regulations for armed forces participating in disaster relief work.
A forum on non-traditional security will also be held in October in Shijiazhuang City in northern China's Hebei Province, with ASEAN members, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea all sending delegations, he added.
