November 21, 2005

China, US to work together against bird flu

China and the US will increase their co-operation in preventing the bird flu spread, the two countries' presidents said after a 90-minute meeting in Beijing.

Both presidents agreed that the threat and the possible spread to humans of the bird flu is "a common threat facing all countries," Chinese President Hu Jintao said.

As such, both countries will be "jointly support and take part in the prevention and control co-operation of avian flu in the region and the world at large," Hu added.

Bush thanked Hu for his agreement to work together to control the disease.

At the moment, there are no details on any new initiatives the two countries may take together.

China, which has the world's biggest poultry industry, has reported 15 bird flu outbreaks and one human death from bird flu since last month.