Vice-Premier Wang Yang announced key tasks for this year’s quake relief efforts and stressed the importance of prevention, at a national conference in Beijing on Jan 5.

He explained the efforts for quake prevention and disaster relief in 2016, and listened to earthquake monitoring analysis for 2017.

“China is still an earthquake and disaster-prone country, so we should strengthen risk prevention, enhance after-disaster governance and push forward monitoring and increase response work, in an effort to improve the overall ability in quake prevention and disaster reduction,” said Wang.

He urged local authorities to make better contingency plans for quake precautions and relief, and roll out concrete measures to reduce effects of earthquakes.

In addition, the vice-premier called for efforts to improve seismic resistance of old buildings and schools, and enhance public awareness on how people can save themselves.