China's central government has established a new office under the General Office of the State Council to deal with emergencies, according to a circular from the General Office of the State Council.

The General Watch Office will issue warnings, gather information, and coordinate emergency efforts, says the circular published on the website of the central government, www.gov.cn.

It will mainly be responsible for disaster prevention and control, industrial safety and accidents, major epidemics, terrorist activities and other disruptive incidents, the circular says.

Source: Xinhua