BRI countries work to tackle disasters

Scientists from China and other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative will work together to enhance scientific and technological cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation, according to a joint declaration.

The collaboration aims to make areas along the initiative safer, more sustainable and disaster-proof, according to the declaration published during the two-day International Conference on Silkroad Disaster Risk Reduction and Development, which concluded in Beijing on Sunday.

Sunday marked China's 11th National Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day, an annual event which began in 2009 after a devastating earthquake hit Sichuan and neighboring provinces on May 12, 2008, leaving over 87,000 dead or missing.