China, ASEAN Join Hands in Fighting SARS

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 30, 2003

China, ASEAN Join Hands in Fighting SARS

ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the special China-ASEAN Summit on the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) issue were held respectively in Thailand on the afternoon of April 29. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for closer coordination and cooperation between China and in fight against the SARS.

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Wen Jiabao at China-ASEAN Meeting on SARS

ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the special China-ASEAN Summit on the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) issue were held respectively in Thailand on the afternoon of April 29. At the invitation of the host, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao went to Thailand to attend the summit.

This is the first regional international summit held in the world since the outbreak of the epidemic disease of SARS. This meeting will show to the world the region's determination to unite in the fight against SARS. Commentaries of foreign news agencies said that the ASEAN and China joined hands in combating the Asian financial storms with brilliant achievements six years ago. The current crisis of SARS has more closely linked the fates of China and the ASEAN. The present summit is held more timely than the summit on countering the financial storm six years ago.

With regard to Chinese Premier's attendance to the summit on invitation, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat indicated that China's presence at the meeting is of very important significance, it will transmit a kind of political signal to the world, i.e., countries of this region are cooperating with concerted efforts to solve various problems brought about by SARS, it will play an important role in controlling the spread of the epidemic in the region, reducing its negative effect on the regional economy and helping people regain their confidence.

Thai Ambassador Don Pramudwinai to China made a special trip from Beijing to Bangkok to attend the meeting. He said to the reporter of Global Times: Thailand had vigorously advocated from the very beginning of the summit that China should be invited to attend the meeting. China is a friendly neighbor and brother of Thailand. During the period of financial crisis, China provided valuable support for Thailand and the ASEAN. Now China meets with more serious difficulties than we do, we really want to extend a helping hand.

After his arrival in Bangkok at 8:30 a.m. April 29 (local time), Premier Wen, disregarding his fatigue caused by the journey, immediately held talks with the host Thai Prime Minister Thaksin, Rotating President, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as well as Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who reached a wide consensus.

In meeting with Prime Minister Thaksin, Premier Wen said that this meeting is a vivid expression the mutual trust and mutual support between China and the ASEAN, which will give a strong signal to the international community, indicating that China will unite as one man with ASEAN countries, strengthen cooperation and join hands with them in winning a triumph over the challenge of SARS. Prime Minister Thaksin said the term "crisis" in Chinese contains two aspects of disaster and opportunity, we are willing to enter into close cooperation with China, overcome the difficulties brought about by SARS and bring Thailand-China friendship to a higher level. He highly appreciated the example set by Chinese leaders in leading the Chinese people in the fight against SARS and believed that China will definitely be able to overcome present difficulties.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman disclosed on April 27 that the summit reached a consensus in six aspects, including establishment of a high-efficient, transparent system of information and material on the fight against SARS; establishment of a permanent epidemic early warning system; establishment of a Sate-level anti-SARS emergency cooperation network; formulation of prevention and control measures of a unified regional standard; and development of anti-SARS technological and academic exchanges.

The Chinese government pledged at the meeting to contribute 10 million yuan (1.2 million US dollars) to a special fund to promote cooperation with ASEAN in containing the disease. Wen said China will gradually lift a travel ban to ASEAN countries to reduce SARS impact on the ASEAN regional economy, which has suffered a blow due to the disease.

Meanwhile, China and ASEAN decided to coordinate their rules at entry and exit points to counteract the effects of SARS while facilitating a normal flow of passengers. In addition, they decided to convene a meeting of China and ASEAN health ministers in a further move to prevent the spread of the disease.

China's all-out efforts in the fight against SARS was highly appreciated at the meeting. On Tuesday, ASEAN leaders welcomed China's support and cooperation in their fight against the disease, and a senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said that "China is fully engaged in fighting SARS."

At the meeting, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that overcoming difficulties caused by the disease would improve the existing Sino-Thai friendship and help restore the region's confidence. Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Cho Tong expressed the hope that China and ASEAN would develop an effective cooperative mechanism to deal with the SARS crisis through their concerted actions.

ASEAN and Chinese leaders issued a joint statement after the meeting, expressing their deep concern over the mounting threat tothe life and health of the people in Asia and the world at large due to SARS. They stressed the need for collective efforts not only in the ASEAN region but also in the rest of the world to effectively tackle the challenges posed by the deadly virus.

In addition to the statement, ASEAN leaders adopted a joint declaration in which they pledged to cooperate in providing public information and education to promote public awareness and better understanding of SARS and at the same time prevent panic on the part of the public.

ASEAN members would also strengthen cooperation among front line enforcement agencies such as health, immigration, customs, transport and law enforcement in preventing the spread of SARS. They will cooperate in ensuring proper screening for travelers at the points of origin and arrival by qualified medical personnel.

ASEAN leaders also decided to establish and strengthen an earlywarning system on emerging infectious diseases at both national and regional levels in collaboration with the WHO and other international health programs.

In order to make the summit a success, the various departments of the Thai government, which cooperated with concerted effort, have made intense and thoughtful preparations within a short space of time. Owing to the fact that leaders of various countries and the delegations they led as well as large numbers of Thai personnel who gathered at the venue of the summit meeting, the Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry of Thailand specially sent out a health quarantine team to enter and station in the Foreign Ministry and installed ultraviolet temperature reaction testers at the entrance, each participant had to first test their body temperature before entry. The Health Ministry also stipulated that except leaders from various countries, all their retinues must show their health certificates. In the hotels where leaders from various countries and their delegations stayed, the Thai side also adopted and implemented strict security measures, cars driving into the parking lots of various hotels must go through strict security check.

Reporters coming to cover the meeting are very active, besides reporters from China and ASEAN countries, there are many reporters from renowned Western media. According to an officials with the Information Department of the Thai Foreign Ministry, nearly 500 foreign reporters have applied for covering the conference. On April 28, the Chinese reporters saw many foreign reporters lining up in the great hall on the first floor of the Thai Foreign Ministry, waiting to get their permits for covering the conference, it can be seen that the summit has attracted the concern and attention of the international community.

Main points of ASEAN-China joint statement on SARS

The two sides agreed to develop and strengthen cooperation on SARS control and take coordinated measures to reduce and eliminateits multi-faceted impact on the region.

The Chinese side pledged RMB 10 million yuan (about 1.2 millionUS dollars) to launch a special fund in support of China-ASEAN cooperation program on SARS control and prevention and the eradication of its multifarious impacts.

Health ministers and other relevant officials of China and ASEAN members were directed to undertake the following measures:

-- exchange information on the latest developments of SARS, including its control and treatment, and related study and research;

-- appoint a focal/contact point in every country for the routine exchange of information as part of a "hotline" network to facilitate communication in an emergency;

-- carry out cooperative research and training focusing on SARS spread patterns, pathology and care and treatment of severe SARS cases.

-- jointly sponsor a high-level international symposium on SARS control and treatment in China as soon as possible;

-- sponsor a special symposium to assess the political, security, economic and other possible impacts of SARS on this region.

-- take rigorous measures for immigration and customs control to prevent the spread of SARS.

Following are excerpts of the joint declaration

Recognizing the grave challenge posed by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted on Tuesday a joint declaration at their special summit in Bangkok on fighting the epidemic.

--- To cooperate in providing public information and education to promote public awareness and better understanding of the SARS epidemic as well as to prevent undue alarm on the part of the public;

--- To strengthen cooperation among front line enforcement agencies such as health, immigration, customs, transport and law enforcement in preventing the spread of SARS;

--- To direct health and other relevant ministers to promote, facilitate and enhance the exchange and sharing of information on how to deal with and counter the spread of SARS;

--- To cooperate in ensuring proper pre-departure health screening for travelers at the points of origin and arrival screening at entry points of ASEAN countries by qualified medical personnel;

--- To establish and strengthen an early warning system on emerging infectious disease at both national and regional levels in cooperation with the WHO and other international health programs;

--- To request the WHO to conduct a review of the classification of "affected" countries; review and update guidelines on travel; expedite the development of test kits and vaccines; and formulate and provide further technical guidelines on interventions relating to SARS;

--- To task relevant experts to consider a Health Emergency Fund within the existing ASEAN Foundation framework;

--- To maintain and strengthen the fundamental policies that have brought many years of growth and prosperity; and to keep the economies and borders open.

Main Points of Wen's Speech at China-ASEAN Meeting

Stressing that all diseases, particularly new infectious disease of unknown causes, are common enemies of mankind, and that cross-border spread of SARS is a common challenge to the world and to Asia in particular, Wen proposed the following measures of cooperation between China and ASEAN:

-- to establish a reporting mechanism with respect to epidemic and disease prevention and treatment;

-- to carry out exchanges of experience and go for cooperated SARS research;

-- to accelerate the bilateral health cooperation process;

-- to coordinate border exit and entry control measures; and,

-- to do everything possible to minimize the adverse effects of SARS, including the establishment of a China-ASEAN workshop to look into possible counter-measures.

Wen also said that China has taken the following measures to contain the disease:

-- strengthening prevention across the board to contain the spread of the disease, making SARS a statutory epidemic under the country's legislation, and establishing an open and transparent system for epidemic reporting and news release;

-- going all out to treat SARS patients and setting up SARS funds;

--establishing an epidemic contingency mechanism and enhancing the capacity for emergency management. China lost no time in establishing and improving a national public health contingency response mechanism, including a disease monitoring and data collecting and sharing network, and a collaborative network of laboratories;

-- stepping up critical SARS research and exploring effective methods of diagnosis and treatment; and

--enhancing cooperation with the international community and drawing on others' successful experience.

By People's Daily Online

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