DRC-China health cooperation fruitful: minister

KINSHASA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Samuel-Roger Kamba said Tuesday that China has stood firmly with the DRC in the face of public health challenges.

Kamba made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Zhao Bin and Chinese medical experts assisting the country's Ebola response.

The minister thanked the Chinese government for sending medical experts at a critical stage in the DRC's fight against Ebola, saying the outbreak remains a difficult public health task for the country.

China has honored its commitments and acted on its word by providing practical support to help the DRC strengthen epidemic prevention, control and public health emergency response capacity, Kamba said.

The DRC is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in such fields as epidemic surveillance, scientific research, clinical treatment and personnel training, he added.

Zhao said China and the DRC enjoy a deep traditional friendship, and bilateral health cooperation has spanned more than half a century.

The Ebola outbreak concerns not only the DRC's public health, but also regional and global public health, Zhao said, adding that China, which advocates building a global community of health for all, stands ready to continue providing support within its capacity in light of the evolving outbreak and the DRC's actual needs.

Gu Zhiqiang, head of the second batch of Chinese experts, said team members have rich experience in epidemic prevention and control.

The team will work under the DRC's arrangement and response system, Gu said, adding that it will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the DRC in epidemic assessment, laboratory testing, patient treatment, infection prevention and control, port health quarantine and personnel training.

The team arrived here on Friday to take over from the first group.