GENEVA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A UN official has praised China's approach to disaster risk reduction and resilience-building, describing it as strongly "people-centered" and offering valuable lessons for global efforts.

Kamal Kishore, head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. He highlighted China's efforts in technological innovation, governance system development and international cooperation, noting that these efforts provide valuable experience for countries seeking to enhance disaster preparedness.

Kishore, who also serves as UN assistant secretary-general and special representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, warned that disaster-related losses worldwide are rising rapidly.

Citing the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, he said, global annual losses from disasters, including both direct losses and broader economic impacts, have reached as much as 2.3 trillion U.S. dollars.

Recalling his visit to China in November 2025, Kishore commended the country's comprehensive disaster risk reduction system. He pointed to strong policy and institutional capacity at the central level and extensive implementation mechanisms at the local level, enabling effective coordinated action both horizontally and vertically.

"Everything that is happening in China has a very strong people-centered focus," he said, adding that science and technology are being used "to actually touch people's lives and make their lives safer and more resilient to the impact of disasters."

Kishore also noted that China is at the forefront of applying advanced technologies in disaster management. He cited an example of using drones, artificial intelligence (AI) and a sensor network to monitor thousands of kilometers of flood embankments, calling such an application "really remarkable."

He added that these practices could be shared with other countries facing similar challenges.

In particular, he highlighted China's progress in AI and its strong capacity in early warning systems as key contributions to disaster risk reduction.

Kishore further underscored the importance of international cooperation. In November last year, the UNDRR joined the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management as a partner.

While acknowledging progress in reducing disaster-related mortality under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, he noted that challenges remain in reducing the number of affected people, economic losses and damage to infrastructure.

He said the cooperation framework proposed by China helps "fill that gap" by promoting coordinated international efforts and supporting the construction of resilient infrastructure in line with global standards, thereby reducing the impact of disasters on livelihoods and essential facilities. ■