Ministry to improve emergency response

In past, rescue teams were scattered, but now they'll be under a single body

The new Ministry of Emergency Management, which officially began functioning on Monday, will help integrate China's scattered disaster-relief resources to cope with the country's frequent natural disasters and accidents, experts said.

Ceremonies inaugurating the ministry were held in Beijing and attended by Vice-Premier Han Zheng, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.