Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming Calls for Stronger Nepal-China Cooperation on Early Warning and Disaster Response
Dragon Media Correspondent
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming has expressed deep sorrow over the devastating flash flood in Rasuwa and said China stands firmly with Nepal during this difficult period.
Speaking to NTV World, Zhang extended condolences to those who lost their lives and expressed sympathy to the bereaved families, the Government of Nepal and the Nepali people. He said China would continue to closely monitor developments and provide support and assistance to the best of its ability.
Asked about the origin of the flood, Zhang said that, based on preliminary information available to the Chinese side, an earthquake-related event occurred on the Nepali side on the morning of August 26, triggering an ice avalanche and subsequently mudslides. He said the disaster caused significant casualties and left people missing on both sides of the Gyirong-Rasuwagadhi border region.
The ambassador’s account represents the Chinese side’s preliminary assessment. The precise geographical origin of the disaster, the nature of the seismic signal, the sequence of the ice and rock collapse, and the scientific mechanism that produced the destructive flood still require detailed investigation.
According to Zhang, Chinese President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the disaster and instructed authorities to make every effort to search for and rescue missing people, relocate residents at risk, provide temporary shelter and promptly treat the injured.
Xi also emphasized strengthening monitoring and early-warning systems, conducting rescue operations on a scientific basis and preventing secondary disasters, Zhang said.
Following the disaster, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal immediately activated its emergency response mechanism. The embassy assessed the situation of Chinese citizens and enterprises in affected areas and coordinated with the Nepali government and relevant authorities on rescue efforts.
Zhang said the embassy also dispatched a working team to the affected area to assist with coordination on the ground.
Despite suffering significant losses on the Chinese side of the border, China also began coordinating emergency supplies and cash assistance for Nepal, he said.
Zhang said Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had traveled to Xizang with officials from relevant ministries to guide rescue and emergency response operations.
According to the ambassador, Chinese authorities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources, China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Emergency Management and the Xizang Autonomous Region authorities have established coordination mechanisms with their Nepali counterparts.
These mechanisms are focusing on disaster assessment, search and rescue, follow-up response and the preparation of rescue plans.
Zhang also praised the response led by the Nepali government and relevant authorities, as well as the resilience and efforts of the Nepali people.
Looking ahead, the ambassador said Nepal and China could learn important lessons from the disaster and should strengthen cooperation in at least three major areas.
First, the two countries should improve information sharing, monitoring and early-warning systems covering meteorological, hydrological and geological hazards. Zhang said mechanisms for sharing information on cross-border disasters should be strengthened to enable earlier detection, warning and response.
Second, Nepal and China should strengthen communication, coordination and institutional arrangements for emergency rescue. More effective mechanisms for joint response and rescue cooperation would help both sides react more quickly when sudden disasters occur.
Third, the two countries should expand personnel training, technical exchanges and emergency supply support. Zhang said disaster prevention, mitigation and emergency response capacity should also be strengthened at the local level, particularly in vulnerable border areas.
Describing Nepal and China as close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Zhang said natural disasters do not respect political boundaries. He stressed that real-time monitoring, automated early-warning systems, rapid exchange of hydrological and meteorological data, and regular joint rescue preparedness should become part of long-term bilateral cooperation.
The ambassador reiterated that China stands ready to continue providing assistance according to Nepal’s needs and to work jointly with Nepal to strengthen both countries’ capacity to respond to natural disasters.
Protecting the lives and property of people on both sides of the border, he said, should remain a shared priority for Nepal and China.
