With the rising need to step up efforts in preparation for natural disasters, China's Ministry of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the Guangdong provincial government, held the 2024 Belt and Road Emergency Rescue Exercise for Pacific Island Countries. Around 300 people from emergency rescue forces representing China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Pacific island countries participated in the exercise on Sunday. Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who is on an official visit to China, led a Samoan delegation to the site. Deputy Minister of Emergency Management Xu Jia'ai said China hopes the exercise provides more opportunities for Pacific island countries to resist disaster threats and respond to challenges.