Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu Thursday called for giving priority to building a comprehensive capability for the country's disaster reduction effort by relying upon "science, laws and the masses."

Hui, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, made the remarks at a plenary meeting of the State Committee for Disaster Reduction held in Beijing.

He said China made "remarkable progress" last year in disaster reduction and a new situation featuring "active prevention and effective relief" has taken shape in this regard.

As a result, disaster losses have been minimized "to the greatest extent" and a new trail has been blazed for future effort of disaster reduction, he said.

He said effective disaster reduction work plays a significant role in promoting sustainable economic development, ensuring human being-nature harmony and social harmony and stability.

The vice premier called upon local governments and departments concerned to pay close heed to development trends of disasters, actively explore new ways and means of disaster reduction and make "ceaseless efforts" to improve the mechanisms of disaster reduction.

Source: Xinhua