China and the World Health Organization (WHO) will further
strengthen co-operation against the backdrop of the killer SARS
outbreak.
The message was conveyed on Friday during separate meetings between
visiting WHO Director-General nominee Jong Wook Lee and
Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
China has attached great importance to the role of the WHO in the
global health cause, said Wu, who is also the minister of health.
She hailed the China-WHO co-operation as fruitful.
Wu's sentiments were echoed by Li, who said China will continue to
support the work of the WHO.
Lee, PhD, said he will devote himself to promoting WHO-China
co-operation after he takes office.
Lee, who will replace current WHO head Gro Harlem Brundtland if his
nomination for the position is confirmed in July by the World
Health Assembly, said the WHO and Chinese health officials at the
highest level are working very closely.
Lee said he expected China to provide more and better
information.
"About the quality of the data, it is my impression that we (the
WHO, Beijing and the Ministry of Health) are doing our best,'' Lee
said.
"It is very positive that we (the WHO and Chinese health officials)
can discuss all the issues very openly.''
Noting that the greatest problem now is in big cities like Beijing,
Lee said it is too early to say whether the disease has peaked in
the capital.
Lee also held talks with Executive Vice-Minister of Health Gao
Qiang on Friday.
Lee, during his one-day visit, was greeted by a confident Chinese
cabinet.
According to a Chinese spokesman, Wu told Lee that the Chinese
Government was giving top priority to the health and safety of its
people and China is confident in its ability to beat SARS.
Lee showed deference to the Chinese Government and people's
courage, and wished the nation success to bring the disease under
control.
(China Daily May 10, 2003)