Reshuffle beefing up emergency response

A new ministry will be established to manage China's major emergency responses in efforts to guard against major risks and improve the public safety system, said a draft plan submitted on Tuesday to the National People's Congress for deliberation.

The plan will integrate all resources for emergency management to build a professional and fast-response system, which can ensure the safety of people's lives and their property, the plan said.

The suggested Ministry of Emergency Management will take over the responsibilities of the current State Administration of Work Safety and functions from other ministries, including firefighting from the Ministry of Public Security, disaster relief from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, geological disaster prevention from the current Ministry of Land and Resources, drought and flood control from the Ministry of Water Resources, and prairie fire control from the current Ministry of Agriculture.