9. Conclusions
China, the world’s most populous nation, is experiencing economic, social and urban change at unprecedented rates. It has a long history of devastating natural disasters including major losses through earthquakes and associated secondary events.

Seismic hazard assessment methods are varied, numerous and very practical for builders and engineers. However, destruction to Tangshan city and the neighbouring region in the 1970’s has driven scientists, economists and the insurance sector to determine probable losses for potentially similar earthquakes across China. With the rise of large urban centres and nationwide construction projects across the country, the need to estimate potential losses is both necessary and ongoing.

Existing seismic risk studies have taken account of potential building losses through the division and classification of building stock and publication of corresponding damage probability matrices. On a regional scale this is extended to loss related to GDP indicating that western China will suffer greater loss than the more developed east over the next fifty years. The economic and political emergence of mega-cities, such as Shanghai, however, requires estimates of probable city-specific losses in case an unlikely large earthquake event should occur in the vicinity.

As China moves further into the 21^st century the rest of the world has a unique opportunity to learn and assist in its rapid development, During the coming decades, however, we must be aware that nature will not rest. Only through collaborative risk assessment, mitigation and awareness will China become a leading nation that it aspires to be.

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