Political advisors discuss maritime rescue

BEIJING -- China's political advisors met Friday to discuss how to improve the country's maritime rescue, at a bi-weekly seminar.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presided over the seminar.

He underscored the importance of building up a security system for maritime rescue, calling for responses to existing problems, strengthening the capacity base, improved the working system and policy support to safeguard the creation of a strong maritime country.

A total of 15 political advisors and frontline rescuers made suggestions.

They agreed that China had made great progress in improving maritime rescue, yet there were problems such as inadequate laws and regulations, unsmooth running of systems and mechanisms, and lack of stable teams of talent.

A number of political advisors called for regulation on maritime search for lives, and regulations and mechanisms regarding diving, salvage and the removal of shipwrecks and other sunken items.

They also proposed that a system be set up to train professional rescuers and, and enhancing incomes for all types of rescuer.

Between 2010 and 2015, China organized and coordinated 12,411 marine search and rescue missions, saving 108,464 lives, including of 8,070 foreigners, according to a white paper on China's transport released in December 2016.