Chinese Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju said at a press conference Wednesday that China would reinforce natural disaster relief efforts to guarantee the country's sustainable development.

"Natural disasters always co-exist with the development of human society. But so long as we find out their rules and optimize our rescue system, we can overcome the difficulties incurred by disasters to safeguard the sustainable development," said Li, who is also deputy head of the China International Disaster Reduction Committee.

Natural disaster alleviation has been helped gradually by legislation as China has already promulgated a series of laws, rules and regulations such as those concerning flood control, earthquake control and fire control, according to Li.

In addition, he noted, more and more modern technologies have been put into use in monitoring and forecasting different kinds of natural adversities and disasters.

Li went on to say that China should step up the reform of its disaster reduction system, increase the investment in natural disaster reduction and further improve the whole society's capability to face up disasters.

Natural disasters have affected an average of some 200 million people and cost approximately 100 billion yuan (US$12.05 billion) a year in China over the last decade, figures from the Ministry show.

The press conference was held by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as China marked the International Day for Disaster Reduction on Oct. 8, which this year has the theme of "Turning the tide of disasters towards sustainable development".

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)