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Full Text of Chinese Premier's Address at International Conference on Pandemic Influenza (2)

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Full text of Chinese premier's address at international conference on pandemic influenza (2)

Dear delegates,

The Chinese government sees great value and takes an active part in international cooperation in the prevention and control of avian influenza. Acting in a prompt, open and transparent manner, we have informed the international organizations and countries concerned of the epidemic situation among birds and cases of human infection in China. We have hosted and attended international conferences on avian influenza and have provided China's neighbors with financial, material and technical assistance within our capacity to assist their prevention and control efforts. Prevention and control of avian influenza is a long-term and arduous task, which requires both unremitting efforts of national governments and close cooperation of the international community. To promote global cooperation in the prevention and control of avian influenza, I wish now to propose the following:

First, establish a global cooperation mechanism on avian influenza prevention and control. The international community should conduct extensive cooperation, make full use of the various regional and sub-regional mechanisms, adopt prevention and control measures and set a mechanism for joint prevention and control. As a responsible member of the international community, China will continue to actively participate in international cooperation in avian influenza prevention and control, share our experience with related countries and help them fight avian influenza.

Second, build up capacities in prevention and control. The international community should promptly set up a global surveillance and early warning system against infectious diseases and help countries build up their capacities in early warning and emergency response. Countries should conduct joint epidemiological study and development of new drugs. China is ready to provide personnel training for ASEAN countries and other neighbors and carry out technical exchanges with countries concerned in epidemiological surveys, early warning and surveillance, laboratory testing, and clinical diagnosis and treatment. We are also ready to cooperate with countries and international organizations concerned to develop effective vaccines and drugs against avian influenza.

Third, give full play to the coordinating role of the United Nations and other international organizations. The UN should draw on its political strength and carry out effective policy coordination in international cooperation on avian influenza prevention and control. The World Heath Organization should provide more technical support to developing countries. China is ready to fully use the existing cooperation mechanisms to give countries and international organizations concerned timely and accurate updates on the latest development of the avian influenza epidemics. We will release relevant information such as the genetic sequencing of viral strains and work with the international community to develop response strategies. We are also ready to assist avian influenza prevention and control in other countries and areas through South-South cooperation and other forms of cooperation.

Fourth, increase funding support. The developed countries, international organizations such as the World Bank and major companies, should play a bigger role in fund raising. We hope that they will make active donation and support the adoption of the Multi- donor Financing Framework for Avian and Human Influenza at this conference. Under the framework, timely and sufficient funding assistance should be provided to the worst-affected developing countries, with no strings attached and with full respect for their sovereignty. To support the global effort to prevent and control avian influenza, the Chinese Government has decided to provide 10 million U.S. dollars. The funds will be put in place in a speedy manner. In the future, we will provide assistance within our capacity to our neighbors and other countries in need through bilateral channels.

Dear delegates,

Avian influenza prevention and control is now a priority of the international community, and fruitful international cooperation in this area is being carried out. However, the spread of avian influenza remains a daunting challenge and we still have a long way to go in avian influenza prevention and control. Still, I am confident that with concerted efforts from the international community and all of you present at the conference, we can certainly defeat avian influenza and thus make new contribution to the advancement of human society.

In conclusion, I wish the conference every success.

Thank you!

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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