Chinese state councilor Wang Yong has called for an improvement of disaster relief and prevention capabilities to protect people's lives and properties in the country.

Wang made the comments at a National Committee for Disaster Reduction meeting on Sunday, which is also China's fifth Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day.

Wang hailed the progress made in disaster relief. He said the disaster reduction system in the country is more complete and people's awareness of disaster prevention has been growing.

Meanwhile, the state councilor, who is also head of the committee, said disaster prevention workers should be fully aware of weak points in their work.

Wang urged workers to carry out good resettlement and reconstruction work after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Lushan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on April 20.

In addition, the state councilor also asked workers to be ready for the flood season and further spread disaster prevention and reduction knowledge.

Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day started in 2009, after a devastating earthquake hit Sichuan and neighboring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces on May 12, 2008, leaving 87,000 people dead or missing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2013)