China has achieved a significant reduction in workplace accidents and strengthened disaster response systems during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to a government press conference on emergency management.
Safety Milestones Achieved
Workplace accident fatalities fell by 28.4% in 2024 compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), announced Wang Xiangxi, Minister of Emergency Management. Major industrial accidents dropped to single-digit figures for the first time in 2024, representing a 43.8% decrease from the previous five-year cycle.
Disaster Response Upgrades
Key natural disaster metrics showed marked improvements, with annual averages for affected populations decreasing by 31.3%, fatalities and missing persons by 23%, and economic losses relative to GDP by 34.3%. The central government invested nearly 60 billion yuan ($8.44 billion) in treasury bonds to enhance emergency capabilities, completing six regional rescue centers.
Wang emphasized that China's workplace safety protocols have become more rigorous while disaster response mechanisms operate with greater efficiency, reflecting the country's commitment to safeguarding lives and economic stability.
