Military officials from China, Japan, South Korea and member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met
in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Monday
for a five-day workshop on disaster relief by armed forces.
The workshop will focus on the role and methods of armed forces
in international disaster relief work, according to the Chinese
Defense Ministry.
The workshop, the first of its kind, was proposed by Premier Wen
Jiabao at the 10th ASEAN plus three (10+3) summit in Cebu, a resort
Philippine city, in January this year.
Zhang Bangdong, director of the foreign affairs office of the
Defense Ministry, said at the opening ceremony that severe natural
disasters are a common threat for humans everywhere and it is in
the interests of people from all countries in the region to
strengthen international disaster relief cooperation. It benefits
regional prosperity and stability.
He noted that armed forces are a major contributor to disaster
relief in all countries of the region, adding he hoped the
exchanges at the workshop would further enhance understanding and
trust among armed forces of different countries and deepen
cooperation in non-traditional security fields.
The workshop will also include such topics as the construction
of armed forces-local government coordination mechanisms, basic
principles and command methods in disaster relief and international
disaster relief experiences.
All together 28 officials from member countries of ASEAN, China,
Japan, South Korea and the ASEAN secretariat attended the
workshop.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)
