In order to implement the consensus reached at the 14th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China held the third Meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management in Beijing virtually on September 23, with Minister Wang Xiangxi attending and delivering a keynote speech. Heads of disaster management authorities of BRICS countries, including the South African Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Brazilian Ministry of Regional Development, the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, and the Indian National Disaster Management Authorities joined the meeting online. All parties shared their policies and practices on disaster management and the existing cooperation under the BRICS framework around the theme of “Modernizing Disaster Prevention and Control Capabilities to Facilitate High-quality Development in BRICS Countries”. The meeting have reached a broad consensus on future cooperation areas and directions, and jointly issued the Beijing Declaration of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management. For the first time, the meeting invited the heads of disaster management departments of other emerging and developing countries, such as Argentina, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, to attend and make speeches. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mizutori Mami was also invited to deliver a video message.
Minister Wang Xiangxi pointed out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the prevention and control of natural disasters. Since its establishment, the Ministry of Emergency Management has thoroughly implemented President Xi Jinping's important instructions on emergency management. It has adhered to the philosophy of people-centered development and prioritizing people and life first. With a strong sense of responsibility, it has spared no effort to prevent and resolve major disaster risks, sped up the modernization of emergency management systems and capabilities, resolutely curbed major accidents. It has secured the lives and property of the people, thus create a safe and stable environment for China’s economic and social development.
Minister Wang said that BRICS countries, as influential emerging and developing countries, fall victims of natural disasters. It is the consensus of all parties to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, enhance comprehensive capabilities of disaster reduction, build partnerships and expand the influence. China stands ready to work with other BRICS countries to follow the strategic guidance of BRICS' leaders to build on the consensus on disaster reduction; to share experience on improving disaster prevention and control capabilities; to collaborate with each other to address major disaster challenges; to promote the development of emergency science and technology through innovation; and to build a global partnership for disaster management based on the principle of openness and inclusiveness. China is willing to jointly promote the “BRICS+” cooperation in disaster management to achieve solid and sustained progress, help foster the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build a global community for development .
All participants expressed their gratitude to China for hosting this ministerial meeting and a series of supporting events. The representatives of the BRICS countries agreed that BRICS countries have achieved fruitful results in disaster management cooperation in 2022, thanks to China’s positive contributions. BRICS countries are willing to continue to deepen cooperation, make improvements together, and jointly deal with disaster challenges. The representative of guest countries and UNDRR appreciated the efforts made by BRICS countries in facilitating global cooperation on disaster management. They expressed their willingness to strengthen exchanges and mutual understanding, expand pragmatic cooperation, improve disaster prevention and control, and help achieve high-quality economic and social development as well as the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Other distinguished participants include: Xu Jia’ai, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management; Qiong Se, Director of the Fire and Rescue Department; heads of relevant departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Management; representatives of China’s Embassies in participating countries and representatives of participating countries’ Embassies in China.