Forum bolsters cooperation on disaster management

China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States have vowed to bolster their cooperation on disaster management as climate change-triggered catastrophic disasters wreak havoc in many parts of the world, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday.

The statement was unveiled after China and member states of CELAC held the First China-CELAC Disaster Management Cooperation Ministerial Forum via video link.

The two sides noted fatalities, loss of livelihoods and displacements caused by the frequent occurrence of serious and catastrophic disasters of natural or anthropic origin are being exacerbated by climate change and further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the document said.

The situation has limited the sustainable development of economies, societies and environment, with its impact on the protection of the rights and interests of groups in vulnerable situations, thus calling for stronger China-CELAC disaster management cooperation to improve disaster management capacity of all countries and better tackle disaster risks, it said.

China and member states of CELAC agreed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors for disaster management.

For example, they will beef up cooperation in disaster risk monitoring and assessment, including exchange of experience in multihazard monitoring and early warning system, early risk identification, reporting and handling, the statement said.

It said they will also establish a sharing mechanism for risk monitoring and early warning data, risk assessment and disaster impact information.

Disaster prevention and climate change adaptation are also among priorities of their cooperation, it said. They plan to establish a China-CELAC research network on disaster risk reduction to share experiences with policies, regulations and standards, conduct joint research on resilience of key infrastructure, and develop technology and equipment in emergency communications and disaster risk reduction.

The two sides also reached consensus to ramp up cooperation on disaster preparedness and response.

Among the key concerns in such cooperation is trans-boundary rescue capacity building, such as joint exercises, simulations and competitions for rescue teams, the statement said. The two sides also agreed to dispatch rescue teams and relief supplies to each other when necessary.

Aiming to strengthen cooperation between the two sides and jointly tackle these issues of common concern, they officially launched the China-CELAC Disaster Management Cooperation Forum on Thursday.

Based on a people-centered development philosophy, the forum is expected to further deepen China-CELAC coordination and cooperation with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations and UN agencies by upholding the principle of multilateralism through consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, and to support South-South and trilateral cooperation.