Xi urges efforts to prevent major accidents after cargo ship fire in East China

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has urged resolute efforts to prevent major accidents after a foreign cargo ship caught fire in East China's Shandong province.

The cargo ship caught fire on Thursday morning while undergoing repairs at a port in the city of Qingdao, Shandong, causing major casualties.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for intensified efforts to search and rescue people who are missing and provide support for those affected.

In his instructions, he demanded efforts to promptly determine the cause of the accident and hold those responsible accountable.

Xi also required local governments and related departments to draw lessons from the accident, thoroughly identify and address fire hazards, ensure the effective implementation of preventive measures, resolutely prevent major accidents, and safeguard people's lives and property.

Premier Li Qiang called for immediate search and rescue operations for the trapped people, as well as full efforts to treat the injured, properly handle follow-up work, and guard against secondary disasters.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged the Work Safety Commission under the State Council to thoroughly identify workplace safety risks and take concrete steps to prevent major accidents.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a work team to the site to guide rescue efforts, while the provincial authorities of Shandong have mobilized resources to carry out on-site response efforts.