On 12-13 July 2017, Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China, hosted the sixth meeting of the heads of territorial agencies of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member-states' departments for disaster prevention and relief. Suo Yaole, deputy chief of the Region's civilian administration directorate, chaired the meeting.
During the meeting, delegation heads reported on natural disasters and industrial accidents that had taken place in SCO member-states' border areas from September 2015 until July 2017. They also reviewed various measures and international cooperation to prevent disasters and conduct relief operations.
Meeting participants conducted a detailed exchange of opinions on expanded technical cooperation and experience sharing in disaster prevention between border territorial agencies of SCO member-states' departments for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations by holding symposiums and providing technical assistance.
A protocol was signed after the meeting.
Meeting participants visited a facility for storing reserve materials and humanitarian aid and a training centre of the Autonomous Region firefighting brigade, where they were shown up-to-date firefighting equipment, as well as rescue equipment and technology used to provide assistance to victims of emergency situations.
The heads of territorial agencies and representatives of departments for disaster prevention and relief from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the People's Republic of China and a delegation from the SCO Secretariat took part in the meeting.
In 2019, the Russian Federation will host the next meeting of the heads of territorial agencies of SCO member-states' departments for disaster prevention and relief.