BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- China's State Council passed in principle an overall national program on coping with public emergencies at an executive meeting held here Wednesday.

    The meeting, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, also passed in principle an overall plan for ecological protection and construction in the Sanjiangyuan nature reserve, namely the sourcearea of three major rivers -- Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang -- in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

    The program on coping with emergencies spells out the principle,organizational structure and operational mechanism of the State Council in coping with major public emergencies.

    "It is also an important guideline for regional governments andvarious departments to effectively handle public emergencies, safeguard the life and property safety of the people and reduce disaster-triggered losses," said a participant at the meeting. Enditem