The China Earthquake Administration (CEA) is the governmental body directly under the State Council, and authorized - according to the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters” - to implement the earthquake response plan around the country. The main functions are:

To formulate and implement the national development strategies, guidelines and policies, laws and regulations as well as the standards regarding earthquake preparedness and disaster mitigation;

To organize and draft the national program for earthquake preparedness and disaster mitigation, work out the national emergency response plan for destructive earthquakes, establish a national registration system for response plans related to destructive earthquakes, provide guidelines regarding national prediction and preparedness initiatives and study and propose plans for reconstruction in disaster areas;

To formulate the national seismic intensity zoning map and strong ground motion parameter zoning map, undertake seismic safety evaluation, examine the results for key construction projects as well as stress factors which could result in serious secondary disasters - and determine the seismic fortification level;

To supervise and inspect earthquake preparedness and disaster mitigation in accordance with the provisions of the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters”;

To implement the dual-governing system, under the CEA, within the provincial and municipal Earthquake Administrations, establish the systems of management and of planning and finance, guide the work of earthquake administrations under the provincial level, and govern the institutional agencies under the CEA;

To manage the earthquake monitoring and prediction efforts around the country, establish and implement the national plan of earthquake monitoring and prediction, define the tendency of seismicity and the key surveillance areas to the State Council, and implement the plan upon its approval;

To serve as the Earthquake Disaster Relief Commanding Headquarters of the State Council, promptly report any earthquakes, organize the earthquake disaster survey and estimation of losses, advise the State Council on the prompt response to destructive earthquakes - both in China and overseas - and manage the emergency response;

To guide the institutional reform of institutes engaged in earthquake science and technology, draw up the plan and policy to develop earthquake science and technology; organize research programs - including national key projects - on earthquake science and technology; organize and coordinate the research and development of technology and equipment connected to emergency response, search and rescue; guide the development and application of earthquake science and technology; manage international exchanges and cooperation in earthquake science and technology, and undertake seismic monitoring related to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) ;

To provide guidance to increase awareness about earthquake preparedness and disaster mitigation;

To manage and supervise the use of funds related to infrastructure and projects in connection with earthquake preparedness.