China's capacity to monitor and forecast earthquakes has continued to improve, according to a statement from the China Seismological Bureau released on Thursday.

According to the press release, earthquakes measuring above 4 on the Richter Scale can be monitored effectively.

Important provincial capitals in east China and neighboring areas have developed the capacity to monitor tremors of 1.5 to 2 on the Richter scale, while the national capital can monitor earthquakes at 1 to 1.5 on the Richter scale.

Over 400 state and province level professional seismological observatories and 30 regional remote monitoring networks have been constructed across the country, supplemented by 1,400 smaller earthquake monitoring stations and 8,000 minor monitoring stations.

During the Ninth Five-Year-Plan Period (1996-2000), the country's seismological observatories underwent upgrading for digital technology.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2003)