The Chinese government will donate US$10 million to support the
global fight against avian influenza, Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Wednesday in Beijing
"The Chinese government will continue to provide assistance
within our capacity," Wen said at the Ministerial Session of the
International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic
Influenza.
Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and 20
international organizations attended the conference in a bid to
pool financial resources to curb the spread of bird flu.
The spread of avian influenza already threatens regional and
global security and stability and the effective containment of the
disease has become a common task for the international community,
Wen said.
He said the spread of the bird flu in some countries and regions
has not only impacted the economy and social development, but also
severely endangered the health and life of the local people.
Describing bird flu prevention and control as a long-term,
arduous task, Wen said it needs not only the "unremitting efforts"
of all countries concerned, but also closer cooperation within the
international community.
He called for developed countries, international organizations
such as the World Bank, and transnational companies to make greater
contributions towards fund-raising.?
"We expect countries to actively donate, and offer support to
the establishment of a financial framework on multilateral
assistance on bird flu control during the on-going conference." Wen
said.
He also urged the international community to provide
unconditional "timely" and "sufficient" financial help to those
developing countries severely affected by bird flu.
(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)