BRI coordination urged to mitigate natural disasters

Several regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are among the most severely affected by natural disasters and the effects of climate change, according to a report released by China's Ministry of Emergency Management.

The ministry said at a news conference on Tuesday that countries involved in the BRI should coordinate more and share experiences and expertise in tackling challenges related to natural disasters and climate change.

It added that the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management will be established at a ministerial-level forum to be held on Thursday.

The framework aims to enable participating countries and regions to enhance their resilience and capabilities in tackling the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters.

Li Shengli, deputy head of the international cooperation department at the ministry, said China has already collaborated with some countries in reducing the impact of earthquakes and in emergency response.

Countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Indonesia and Nepal have all benefited from earthquake monitoring infrastructure assistance provided by China.

"The ministry has also provided support and humanitarian aid for flood prevention and disaster reduction, such as sending expert teams to Pakistan and providing supplies including rice, solar lamps, tents and blankets to Vanuatu and Nepal during disasters there," he said.

The Disaster Assessment Report for Belt and Road Countries, drafted under the framework, said that countries and regions involved in the BRI are among the most severely affected by natural disasters, and are highly sensitive to the effects of climate change.

It predicts an increasing trend in extreme precipitation, most notably in southern and southeastern Asia. With global warming, the intensity of floods in BRI regions, particularly in the Bangladesh-India-Myanmar region and eastern China, is expected to increase.

These high-risk flood areas cover some 3.4 million square kilometers, potentially impacting around 1.7 billion people, or 31.8 percent of the total population in participating countries and regions, the report said.