China urged to improve safety level as new exhibition highlights contrast

A DISPLAY at the World Expo in Shanghai highlighting the rescue of the Chilean miners has raised public questions about China's own mining industry, the world's deadliest.

Visitors to the exhibit - which opened over the weekend and features a capsule of the type that was used to hoist the trapped miners to safety - said China needed to learn from Chile's determination and expertise in mounting the rescue.

A retired professor visiting the Expo commented: "I have to say they respect human life and human rights more than us. Both the Chilean government and its people never, ever gave up trying to rescue those workers who were stuck in the mine, even though there was just a tiny glimmer of hope.

"China should learn from Chile, not just rescue skills, but also their inner spirit."

In online forums, people sharply criticised China's response to its own mining accidents and asked officials to learn from Chile's success.

China has taken steps to improve mine safety in recent years, reducing the number of deaths to about 2,600 last year from 7,000 in 2003 even though coal output has more than doubled. It has closed illegal small mines with poor safety records or absorbed them into state-owned companies.

China also celebrated its own amazing mine rescue earlier this year, when 115 miners were pulled from a flooded mine in the northern province of Shanxi after more than a week underground. The miners survived by eating sawdust, tree bark, paper and even coal.

But experts say that more needs to be done, particularly in preventing accidents.

Wang Deming, a professor at the China University of Mining and Technology, said: "We need to focus on more improving their work conditions and shutting down illegal mines to prevent future accidents."

Chinese mine operators are still often viewed as high-handed in their attitude toward their workers.