Firefighters stand at attention at the crash site of the China Eastern Airlines plane in Tengxian county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Nanning fire brigade/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Party's top leadership expresses grief over China Eastern Airlines jet crash
A key meeting of the Communist Party of China on Thursday highlighted the need to draw lessons from the crash of the China Eastern Airlines jet on March 21 and called for a nationwide inspection of work safety to maximize efforts to prevent further accidents.
At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, participants were briefed on the emergency response to the accident involving China Eastern Flight MU5735, which crashed midflight with 123 passengers and nine crew members aboard into a mountainous area in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presided over the meeting. At a high-level meeting on Monday, Xi and other senior leaders observed a moment of silence for the crash victims.
Participants in Thursday's meeting expressed grief over the deaths of the 132 people, and they called for continuous efforts in the response to the accident.
It is important to continue with sound measures to sort out the remains and belongings of the victims and hand them over to their loved ones in order to bring dignity to the deceased and consolation to their families, said a statement released after the meeting.
The aid measures to the families of the victims must be scaled up to help them get through this difficult period, the statement said.
The meeting urged various authorities to conduct the investigation into the accident in a scientific and orderly manner, and noted that experts from different sectors must be involved to analyze the flight data and determine the cause and nature of the accident.
Information involving the accident must be made public in a timely, accurate, open and transparent manner to actively respond to concerns from the public, the statement said.
The participants reiterated the importance of coordinating development and security, saying that growth cannot be pursued at the cost of security.
The meeting required all sides to draw lessons from the accident, further improve accountability in relation to work safety and ensure the full assumption of responsibilities related to work safety.
A nationwide work safety inspection will be conducted to comprehensively investigate and rectify various risks and potential hazards to maintain social stability, the statement added.
The meeting pledged to hold accountable not only those who are directly responsible, but also related officials, for accidents that were caused by dereliction of duty, a lack of precautionary measures and ineffective investigative measures.
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记者：徐伟
播报：Michael Card
音频编辑：万月英
【背景阅读】
中共中央政治局常务委员会召开会议 习近平主持会议
新华社北京3月31日电 中共中央政治局常务委员会3月31日召开会议，听取“3·21”东航MU5735航空器飞行事故应急处置情况的汇报，就做好下一步工作作出部署。中共中央总书记习近平主持会议并发表重要讲话。
会议指出，“3·21”东航MU5735航空器飞行事故发生后，党中央高度重视，习近平总书记立即作出重要指示，强调要立即启动应急机制，全力组织搜救，妥善处置善后，尽快查明原因，做好遇难者家属安抚和服务工作。各有关方面闻令而动、快速响应，组织民航、应急、公安、军队、卫健和广西等各方面力量，按照“统一指挥、分工负责、深入细致、科学有序”总体要求，全面做好有关工作。目前，善后处置、事故调查等工作正在有序进行。
会议强调，这次事故导致机上132名人员不幸遇难，我们深感痛心。要坚持人民至上、生命至上，深入细致做好善后处置工作，再接再厉、善始善终。要继续做好遇难者遗骸遗物整理、移交等工作，给逝者以尊严、给家属以慰藉。要加大遇难者家属帮扶救济工作力度，让遇难者家属安心。各有关方面要科学有序开展事故调查，组织各方面专家综合分析飞机数据和各类物料证据，尽快查明事故原因和性质。要平稳有序做好后续信息发布工作，按照及时、准确、公开、透明原则，持续发布信息，积极回应社会关切。
会议指出，要坚持统筹发展和安全，发展决不能以牺牲安全为代价，各方面一定要深刻吸取教训、举一反三，进一步健全安全生产责任制，抓好安全生产责任落实，在全国全面开展安全生产专项大检查，全面排查整治风险隐患，最大限度防范遏制各类事故发生，保持社会大局稳定。因责任不落实、措施不到位、排查整治流于形式等导致发生事故的，不仅要追究直接责任人员的责任，对相关领导也要严肃追责问责。
会议还研究了其他事项。（来源：新华社）
