December 12, 2005

China will assist ASEAN against bird flu

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that China would provide aid to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) against bird flu. His announcement came at the ninth China-ASEAN summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Wen urged Asian countries to strengthen regional cooperation against the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu that has claimed dozens of human lives in Asia already.

The Chinese premier added that China is "ready to provide, within its capability, funds, medical supplies and technical assistance" to ASEAN countries hit by the disease.

China would also provide technical training to ASEAN countries, cooperate in joint research and strengthen information exchange regarding bird flu prevention and control, using the China-ASEAN Fund for Public Health, he said.

Wen said China's National Bird Flu Reference Laboratory has offered to share its experience and cooperate with ASEAN countries in diagnosis of the disease.

China and ASEAN should also enhance information sharing on bird flu outbreaks, and quickly establish a joint mechanism of prevention and control, Wen added.