The State Council, China's central government, has issued a national plan on emergency response for natural calamities.

The State Council issued on Sunday a national plan on emergency response to guide the prevention and treatment of various incidents including natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents and social safety incidents.

The emergency response plan for natural disasters aims to increase the government's effectiveness and competence in the face of natural calamities, minimize people's losses of life and property, and maintain social stability in disaster stricken areas.

The emergency response plan for natural disasters falls into five categories, including one plan for disaster relief and another four plans for flooding and droughts, earthquakes, geologic calamities like mud-rock flow, and forest fires.

The state disaster relief commission will take charge of the coordination of natural disaster relief. The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Finance will supervise the disaster relief budget and urge local governments to increase investment in disaster relief.

The other four plans detail the scope that the emergency response applies to and the corresponding responsibilities and duties of governments at various levels in emergency response to the natural disasters. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)