by Xinhua writers Wu Chen, Yi Ling and Dang Wenbo

CHENGDU: Three years after the devastating earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province, China has continued to sharpen its disaster reduction awareness and capacity.

Chief of Staff of the Sichuan Public Security Fire Department Fu Libing participated in the Wenchuan quake rescue and many other disaster rescue efforts.

Fu says that the Sichuan Provincial Rescue Team had 100 members when it was established in 2003. So far, it has grown to 800 members and is expected to take on 2,300 members in the next three years.

Newcomers will be trained at a specially-built base in Dujiangyan, a city one hour's drive from the provincial capital of Chengdu, and will also be sent abroad to learn from foreign counterparts.

Travelers on the expressway from Chengdu to Dujiangyan pass a prominent building leaning near the road, emblazoned with big, red characters that read, "Earthquake Damaged Building for Training."

It's one of the most important facilities on the training base and the largest of its kind in southwest China. The base was built after an 8.0-magnitude quake jolted Sichuan on May 12, 2008 and was officially put to use in August 2010.

Fu said the Disaster Reduction and Rescue Training Base offers training in fire protection, emergency relief, disaster reduction skills and basic physical performance.

"It also provides disaster education to the public," he said.

The devastating Wenchuan quake and other major natural disasters worldwide have made both government officials and the public more aware of the importance of China's disaster reduction efforts.

The recently released 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) includes policies urging the country to strengthen its disaster reduction system and improve public education on disaster reduction.

In 2009, May 12 was designated as the nation's "Disaster Reduction Day." Statistics show that more than 1,200 counties and 500 communities held disaster reduction training sessions on last year's "Disaster Reduction Day."

After the Wenchuan quake, risk prevention and disaster reduction became compulsory courses in local schools. Emergency evacuation, fire prevention and earthquake rescue exercises are regularly held in schools.

Liu Xia, a student at Beichuan High School, said she is well-versed in how to get out to safe place when a disaster occurs.

"Teachers have organized us for evacuation exercises. There are also barrier-free passages for disabled students," said the 17-year-old, who had been buried under debris for two days after the quake.

"I feel safe in our newly-built school," she said.