Wen Hopes for Joint Efforts Fighting Against SARS

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 29, 2003

Wen Hopes for Joint Efforts Fighting Against SARS

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Leaders of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met Tuesday afternoon in Bangkok for a special meeting on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a deadly disease that has posed a threat to the Asian region.

Chinese Premier Wen attended the meeting and delivered a speech. In his speech, Wen briefed his ASEAN counterparts on the SARS situation in China and the measures taken by the Chinese government to deal with the fatal disease.

Wen also vowed that China will cooperate closely with ASEAN countries for the prevention, treatment and eradication of the epidemic.

At the special meeting, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation in dealing with SARS and other cross-nation issues.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held bilateral talks with his counterparts of Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore after arriving in Bangkok for the ASEAN-China Summit on the SARS virus.

During the meetings, Wen Jiabao expressed hope that the countries could work together to contain the spread of the SARS virus.

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) won't affect Sino-Thai friendship, but is bound to enhance the bilateral ties, Wen said when meeting his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Chinese premier said that the outbreak of SARS will not affect the development of bilateral relations between China and Thailand, which is characterized by the two countries' profound cooperation in various fields.

He noted that China is ready to cooperate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fight against the killer disease, adding that ASEAN and China's special meeting on SARS shows the mutual trust and support.

Thaksin said Thailand and China share common ground on many issues and now face the same challenge.

He said Thailand is ready to have close cooperation with China to contain the epidemic disease.

He stressed that fighting against SARS and overcoming difficulties caused by the disease would enhance the existing Sino-Thai friendship.

During the meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen before the opening of a China-ASEAN special meeting on SARS, Wen said the special meeting on SARS, which is aimed to find ways of containing the disease, is timely and necessary as SARS has spread around the world.

He believed the meeting would fully demonstrate the determination of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in their efforts to fight the disease.

The Chinese premier expressed confidence that the two sides could work out effective ways for cooperation in fighting the disease.

Wen said China and Cambodia, both developing countries, enjoy along history of friendship. He said China supports Cambodia's choice of the course of development.

Hun Sen, whose country now holds the ASEAN presidency, said the Cambodian people are glad to see the rapid development of ties between the two countries.

He said Wen's participation in the meeting shows that the Chinese government attaches great importance to cooperation with ASEAN.

He believed the special meeting will be a success, and China and ASEAN will have a closer relationship.

The SARS will not affect Sino-Singaporean relations, Wen, who was attending the China-ASEAN special meeting on SARS, made the comment at a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart GohChok Tong.

Wen spoke highly of the all-round development of Sino-Singaporean relations, adding that China will continue to boost the friendly cooperation with Singapore.

He said that the outbreak of SARS, an epidemic which has affected many countries, is not only an unexpected disaster for China, but also a common challenge to the mankind.

The Chinese government has taken resolute measures to contain the spread of the deadly disease, he added.

Wen stressed that China is willing to cooperate with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on the prevention and treatment of SARS.

Speaking on the same occasion, Goh expressed his confidence that the Chinese government and people are capable of dealing with the SARS epidemic.

ASEAN countries are willing to cooperate with China to prevent the spread of the epidemic, and the cooperation in this regard is making progress, Goh said.

He hoped that an ASEAN-China cooperation mechanism of collectively coping with unexpected crisis, such as the outbreak of SARS, will be established after the special meeting.

Preventive and screening measures were proposed at a meeting of ASEAN health ministers in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, and the ASEAN leaders are expected to review these measures and add their suggestions at the summit.

Security is heightened in and around the compound of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, where the special ASEAN summit is to be held.

Infrared thermometers are installed to check body temperatures of all participants and journalists.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

WHO says China made great efforts to contain SARS

A senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday in Bangkok that China has made great efforts to contain severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

David Heymann, executive director for communicable diseases of WHO, made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is aimed at a joint strategy to fight the disease.

"China is fully engaged in fighting SARS," Heymann told some 150 journalists at the Thai Foreign Ministry, after giving a briefing on the development of the killer disease in the world.

Heymann stressed that international cooperation is needed. He noted that the disease spread rapidly as it was initially suspected to be another kind of flu, adding that the virus might have originated in animals and then transmitted to human beings.

He called the international community to join the fight against SARS, saying the disease in one country concerned the whole world.

Answering a question about whether the reported development of some drugs on SARS virus by American scientists represents real headway, he said the antibodies might be effective for some people, but really effective vaccine could still be years away.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese, ASEAN Leaders Meet on SARS Issue

China to Join ASEAN Friendship Treaty

Premier Wen Arrives in Bangkok for ASEAN-China Summit

>> Full Coverage

China to Send Lunar-Probe Satellite in 3 Years: Expert ( 2 Messages)

Analysis: Germany Softening Anti-War Tone as It Enters UN Security Council ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Premier Pledges to Improve SARS Control ( 2 Messages)

China Launches First "Indigenous" Management Theory ( 9 Messages)

China Protects Safety of People from Overseas ( 3 Messages)