An aerial drone photo taken on August 7, 2026 shows the ongoing construction of a power grid transformer substation outside of Beijing. (Photo/Xinhua)

Beijing - China released a five-year plan to spur the development of the safety and emergency equipment industry on Thursday, stressing the role of leading enterprises in enhancing the country's emergency response capabilities.

The plan, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Emergency Management, aims to significantly raise the industry's scale, technological capabilities, product quality and application levels by 2030, with output in key areas reaching 1.4 trillion yuan (about 206.22 billion U.S. dollars).

It also calls for breakthroughs in key technologies, the development of more application scenarios and the cultivation of internationally competitive leading enterprises by 2030.

China's safety and emergency equipment industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with output in key areas surpassing 1 trillion yuan in 2025.

New technologies and equipment have been increasingly deployed in frontline rescue and relief operations. During this year's flood season, drones and satellite communications systems were used to detect risks at dams and ensure communications during emergencies, making flood control and disaster response more precise and efficient.

In January, a guideline on promoting innovation in emergency management equipment set out targets for breakthroughs in more than 20 key technologies, the development of over 20 types of innovative equipment and the wider application of more than 30 types of advanced equipment by the end of 2027.