BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- China will improve efficiency in disaster prevention and relief by 2020 to reduce the impact on ordinary people.

The government will keep direct economic losses to 1.3 percent or less of total GDP on average annually during the 2016-2020 period, while the death toll from disasters will be kept under 1.3 per million people, according to a disaster relief five-year plan released by the State Council on Friday.

During the 2010-2015 period, about 1,500 people died or were missing due to disasters each year.

Meanwhile, China will build a well-connected disaster relief supply reserve system linking governments from the central to county levels to ensure that victims have timely access to support within 12 hours after a disaster.

China will also improve related laws and regulations in the field and improve the country's ability to predict, prevent and counter disasters.

The plan also outlined five major projects such as construction of emergency shelters and public education for disaster prevention and relief.