Xi calls for tech-driven disaster preparedness, stronger early warning systems

BEIJING: Xi Jinping has urged a comprehensive upgrade of China’s disaster prevention and emergency response system, emphasizing technology, planning, and grassroots readiness as key pillars to protect lives and property.

Chairing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Xi said disaster management must be elevated to a strategic priority aligned with China’s broader goals of high-quality development and national security.

Drawing on Chinese state media reporting, Xi outlined a multi-layered approach, stressing that prevention must come before response. He called for embedding safety requirements into territorial and urban planning, particularly in major cities and disaster-prone regions, and for raising resilience standards in critical infrastructure.

Chinese media highlighted Xi’s emphasis on modernizing monitoring and early warning systems, noting that improved forecasting and rapid alerts are central to reducing casualties and economic losses during natural disasters. He also ordered further refinement of emergency response plans to ensure faster and more coordinated action during crises.

In a strong push for innovation, Xi underscored the role of science and technology in disaster management, urging the development of advanced tools and the expansion of the emergency management industry. Legal frameworks supporting disaster response should also be strengthened to ensure more efficient governance during emergencies, he added.

Chinese reports further noted his call to reinforce grassroots rescue systems, highlighting the importance of local-level preparedness and rapid-response capabilities. Public awareness campaigns and disaster education were also stressed as essential to building a “whole-of-society” approach to risk reduction.

The remarks came during one of the CPC’s regular Politburo study sessions—key policy forums used by China’s leadership to set priorities and signal policy direction—underlining disaster preparedness as an increasingly central component of national governance.

Xi’s latest directive reflects Beijing’s growing focus on resilience in the face of climate-related risks and natural hazards, positioning disaster prevention as integral to both economic stability and long-term development planning.