Events

MINSK, 17 December (BelTA) – An agreement on cooperation between the emergencies agencies of Belarus and China will be signed in 2019, Belarus’ Emergencies Minister Vladimir Vashchenko told the media after the meeting with China’s Vice Minister of Emergency Management Shang Yong on 17 December, BelTA has learned.

“The agreement has been almost drafted. In early 2019 we invite the Chinese minister of emergency management to visit Belarus. We hope that the document will be signed in 2019,” Vladimir Vashchenko said.

The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management was set up in May 2018 in line with the decision of the China National People’s Congress. The ministry is responsible for dealing with fires, earthquakes, floods and other natural and manmade catastrophes, and also occupational safety.

According to Vladimir Vashchenko, Belarus and China share similar views on industrial and fire safety. “We are interested in each other’s training practices in monitoring and forecasting, identification of risks, the use of remote-sensed data. China is good at preventive measures, development of safety centers. We are planning to set up such centers in every region. This is the experience that we learned from China and now apply at home. Prevention must be practical and efficient. These centers teach Belarusians, especially young people, practical skills on how to avoid a difficult situation and how to get out of it by helping others, and above all, themselves,” he noted

China’s Vice Minister of Emergency Management Shang Yong added that both countries are interested in stepping up cooperation between the ministries. “We visited the University of Civil Protection at the Emergencies Ministry, got familiar with the software products used in the educational process, the training base and the organization of the educational process. We are planning to develop cooperation in training of specialists in the field of prevention and response,” he added.