Xi: Disaster relief must be improved

President pays tribute to the thousands who died when disaster struck 40 years ago

China must further improve its overall disaster relief ability in view of the frequent natural disasters it experiences, which often cause great damage, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

After mourning victims of the earthquake in Tangshan, Hebei province, that claimed more than 240,000 lives 40 years ago, Xi said disaster relief is a matter of life and death as well as social stability.