Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday
that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
will hold a special meeting on dealing with avian influenza on
March 2 in Beijing.
"Experts and officials of vice-ministerial level from relevant
departments of the ten ASEAN nations will attend the meeting at the
invitation of the Chinese side," Zhang said.
In addition, the ASEAN secretariat, the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization and the
World Organization for Animal Health will also participate in the
meeting.
Since December of last year, avian influenza has swept parts of
some Asian countries, including China. "We hope the meeting could
promote international communication and cooperation on the fight
against bird flu," Zhang said.
Zhang said the meeting will provide a forum for participants to
exchange their experiences on the prevention and control of the
disease and analyze the current epidemic condition in Asia.
Detailed preventative and control measures will also be worked
out at the meeting, Zhang said, adding that the measures will
include the initiative of a China-ASEAN public health cooperative
fund as well as technical cooperation and personnel training in
relevant fields.
A joint press statement will also be released at the China-ASEAN
special meeting, she said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)