Playing catch-up 在這句點解?

playing catch-up means matching the standards, 意思係'趕上'或'追趕' 準則

defined the character of the worldwide rescue effort, with other wealthy nations playing catch-up:
來界定全球性的救援工作, 其他富裕國家只不過是正在追趕(這個)標準

I am guessing Brown has probably mentioned a country that has high standard in worldwide rescue, and other nations are trying to match that standard.