Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Tangshan in Hebei province on Tuesday, where he stressed the need to continuously improve the country’s disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief capabilities. According to a report from rmzxw.com.cn, Li made the remarks during an inspection and慰问 (sympathy visit) in the city.
The visit came as Tangshan marked the 50th anniversary of the devastating 1976 earthquake that leveled the city and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Li’s comments focused on the importance of safeguarding the lives and property of the people, the outlet reported.
The premier’s trip coincided with a wave of media coverage reflecting on the 1976 disaster. One article from finance.sina.com.cn, titled “East-West Question: 50 Years After the Tangshan Earthquake, How Did It End the Western ‘Disappearance Prediction’?” examined how the city’s recovery defied earlier foreign forecasts. Another piece from 凤凰网 (Phoenix New Media) described Tangshan as a “trillion-yuan city” that has completely “broken out” of its tragic past, highlighting its economic transformation.
Separately, China Daily reported on a meeting between President Xi Jinping and disabled individuals, quoting Xi as saying that “disabled people can also live a wonderful life.” That report was not directly related to Li Qiang’s visit but appeared in the same news cycle.
Li Qiang’s remarks in Tangshan signal continued government focus on infrastructure and emergency response systems, particularly in areas with a history of major natural disasters. Observers will watch for any new policy announcements or funding allocations tied to disaster resilience in the coming months.
