Chinese governments at all levels should draw a lesson from this year's destructive winter storm and expand their emergency response capacity accordingly, some political advisors said on Saturday.

"The winter storm tolled an alarm: we should be more prepared for danger in time of safety," said Huang Yao, chairman of the Guizhou provincial committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"It urges governments at all levels to further improve governance and enhance their overall capacity to handle similar emergencies and minimize losses in the future," Huang said at a plenary meeting of the First Session of the CPPCC's 11th National Committee.

The mountainous Guizhou Province in southwestern China was one of the worst snow-plagued regions. Weeks of snow and sleet cut of fits roads and disrupted water and power supplies in many areas.

On behalf of two other political advisors from Guizhou, Huang said some officials in southern China had apparently overlooked the impact of the crisis.

"They thought south China, known for its relatively mild climate, had nothing to do with deep freeze and snowstorm. When snow began to fall, they thought it was an auspicious sign of a good harvest."

In north China, people believe a snow in winter forecasts good harvests in the coming fall.

On the other hand, Huang said governments should raise public awareness of disasters and teach the public to help themselves in time of disaster.

"It's also advisable to set up a comprehensive disaster relief mechanism amongst different government departments and public service facilities including the police, fire brigade, weather and seismological bureaus, flood prevention centers and transportation departments," said Huang.

The CPPCC session opened here on Monday and after three days of study and deliberation on the government work report of Premier Wen Jiabao, the political advisors gathered at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing on Saturday morning to voice opinions on the country's major development issues.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2008)