Although there has been much improvement, greater efforts are needed to mitigate the effects of future earthquakes

China is among the countries most frequently hit by strong earthquakes - those over magnitude-7 on the Richter scale - and 49 percent of its territory, 50 percent of its urban areas, and 70 percent of its cities with a population of more than 1 million, are located in high intensity quake zones.

To reduce the casualties and economic losses resulting from earthquakes, the government has gradually established an earthquake monitoring, warning and emergency rescue system.