China calls together Asian countries for disaster relief

China expects Asian and Pacific countries work together to boost cooperation and common development and contribute to disaster prevention and relief in the region, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Tuesday.

Wen told the foreign delegates who are attending a conference on disaster relief in Asia that the conference will play a significant role in disaster prevention and relief and international cooperation.

Wen, on behalf of the Chinese government, proposed to establish the conference during the Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami early this year.

He said that natural disasters are the common enemy of the human being, and they greatly hinder the sustainable development of the world. With increasing globalization, international cooperation is needed to prevent and cope with natural disasters.

He expressed the hope that the international community increases technological and material assistance to developing nations to help them improve their capability of disaster prevention and relief.

The Chinese government held a personnel training course in May this year for the Southeast Asian nations which had suffered from tsunami, and it will hold a seminar on disaster prevention and relief of ASEAN countries next year, said Wen.

Source: Xinhua