China launches construction safety campaign

China has launched a two-year campaign to make the building of urban infrastructure and homes safer, the top urban planning authority said on Wednesday.

All parties involved in such projects should strengthen safety procedures during construction to reduce the number of accidents, said Yao Tianwei, deputy head of project quality and safety supervision for the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

While calling for stricter safety inspections and supervision of high-risk construction projects across the nation, the ministry also vowed to hand down harsh punishments to firms engaging in illegal practices, he said.

A national database with information about the firms and their projects will allow the government and the public to supervise their behavior, the ministry said.

Local urban-rural development authorities should carry out inspections seriously, focusing on safety issues in project construction and design, and identify potential safety risks, it said.

When serious problems and potential risks are detected during the campaign, the ministry will impose legally mandated punishments, it added.