China to establish a mountaineering rescue system

In light of the current situation featuring the rapid development of outdoor sports and the constant emergence of new situations, the 3rd National Outdoor Sports Club Meeting was held between Jan. 16-18 in Beijing's Huairou National Mountaineering Expedition Training Base.

The China Alpinist Club has put forward a series of measures for rectification in combination with the work of 2005, so as to ensure placing safety first and promote the sound development of the mountaineering undertaking. At the same time, supported by the government, exploration will be made to establish a mountaineering rescue system with Chinese characteristics.

More than 130 people attended the meeting, including representatives of the departments in charge of sports, and representatives of nearly 60 outdoor sports clubs, institutions of higher education as well as sports products producing and marketing units from over 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide.

Li Zhixin, director of the National Mountaineering Administration Center, said, "At present, China boasts more than 300 outdoor sports clubs. Along with blooming outdoor activities, a frequent accident occurrence period will come. Statistics show that from 2000 to 2004, a total of 43 people died in mountaineering and outdoor sports activities, such incidents are, in most cases, directly related to the fact that organization, technology, stamina and experience are inconformity with the requirements. The China Alpinist Club does not agree to the unauthorized organization of so-called "donkey riders" and "net surfers", which lacks a responsible main body and safety guarantee, to engage in risky mountaineering, rock-climbing and outdoor sports activities, and advise those friends involved in "self-service tour" that they should strictly limit their scope of activities within the range of tour.

By People's Daily Online