Chinese premier underlines production safety

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He (L), also head of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, and State Councilor Wang Yong, vice head of the committee, attend a national video and telephone conference on production safety in Beijing, capital of China, July 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, July 26 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for more efforts to improve production safety and forestall major accidents.

Li made the remarks in an instruction to a national video and telephone conference on production safety.

The country should improve its accountability system for workplace safety and make sure regulators, as well as companies, fulfill their duties, Li said.

Efforts should be made to prevent and defuse systemic safety risks in key areas such as hazardous chemicals and mines, he said.

Vice Premier Liu He, also head of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, and State Councilor Wang Yong, vice head of the committee, attended Friday's meeting.

China has seen a decrease in the total number of accidents and serious accidents this year, but risks remain, according to the meeting.

The country should pay close attention to workplace safety during the flood season, and strengthen supervision and emergency response, according to the meeting.