President Xi Jinping has put a premium on public safety. In a statement released on Saturday, May 30, the Chinese president urged authorities to prioritize a stable social environment, especially in a country with a population that has over a billion people.
"We should dedicate our efforts to improving public safety, so that our people can live and work happily and safely," said the president.
The importance of public safety was highlighted and emphasized in a group study conducted by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Workplace safety, food and drug safety, and disaster prevention relief are usually included in public safety. It's a broad term which can encompass a great many things, and President Xi wants an improved mechanism that will allow the public to avoid and respond to safety hazards.
"China's public safety conditions are largely good, but we must be alert to latent problems," President Xi said.
Aside from making public safety of paramount importance, Xi also requested officials to revise and strengthen existing safety regulations for agricultural products. Stringent safety standards in food and drug production and severe punishments for violators, Xi said, must be adopted.
To defuse safety risks in the workplace, Xi said that local governments will be held accountable and a nationwide campaign can help to minimize workplace accidents. Routine measures and quick post-disaster relief, on the other hand, are encouraged to improve prevention and response to natural calamities.
President Xi's call to improve public safety is only timely, as China has had a fare share of safety concerns such as food contamination, factory mishaps and natural disasters.