To implement the consensus reached at the 14th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China hosted 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 participated in the meeting online. All parties shared their policies and practices on disaster management and the existing cooperation under the BRICS framework with the theme of “Modernizing Disaster Prevention and Control Capabilities to Facilitate High-quality Development in BRICS Countries”. The meeting reached 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 markets 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 been adhering to the philosophy of people-centered development, 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 creating a safe and stable environment for China’s economic and social development.