China will make more efforts in disaster reduction and work with other Asian countries and international organizations to build disaster-prone Asia into a safer continent, said China's Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday.

Hui made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the sixth meeting of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management held on Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

China is planning to build the Asian Center for Catastrophic Disasters and International Center for Drought Risk Reduction to enhance cooperation with other Asian countries, said Li Liguo, vice minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Secretary-General of National Committee for Disaster Reduction.

"We hope to work with other countries to study ways of reducing disasters and enhance our capability in this regard," Li said.

China suffers many natural disasters. In the first 10 months this year, disasters have claimed 2,373 lives, left 568 missing and displaced over 13 million people, triggering 199 billion yuan (or US$25.5 billion) in direct economic losses.

The conference runs from Nov. 9 to 11, and is attended by over 70 delegates from 22 countries and regions and 12 international organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2006)