On the afternoon of May 18, 2003, Chinese Vice
Premier Wu Yi met with WHO (World Health Organization)
Director-General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland in
Geneva.
Wu spoke highly of the beneficial work
done by the WHO in promoting global health cooperation and
fully introduced China's efforts to prevent and treat SARS.
She emphasized that the Chinese leaders and government
attach great importance to the health and safety of its
people, place the fight against SARS on top of the agenda of
governments at all levels in China, and resolutely and
quickly took a series of measures. With more than two-month
hard work, the SARS epidemic in China is under control to a
certain extent. The number of new cases in China dropped to
28 as of May 18.She said that however, we cannot lower our
guards as the epidemic might relapse with even minor
oversight. We are further implementing all measures so as to
claim full victory over SARS.
Wu thanked the
WHO for sending experts to China. She said that despite
difficulties, we have both the determination and confidence
in victory over SARS, by relying on science, technology and
the strength of the people, and with the support of the
international community including the WHO. The Chinese side
welcomes suggestions by the WHO on establishing a research
fund on SARS, and is willing to be actively
involved.
Wu also briefed Brundtland that the
Chinese central government is concerned about the health and
welfare of the people in Taiwan province and actively
promotes cross-straits health exchanges and cooperation. She
said that the Chinese people across the Taiwan straits are
related by flesh and blood. Since the epidemic of SARS took
place in Taiwan, the central government is greatly
concerned. We have invited health workers and experts from
Taiwan to visit the mainland for many times and provided
them with the newly-developed reagent. In fact, Taiwan has
access to all kinds of health information and cooperation
across the Taiwan Straits is very close. While people across
the straits are fighting SARS in the same boat, the Taiwan
authorities try to make SARS a political issue and propose
that Taiwan enter into the WHO where only sovereign states
qualify in the capacity of "observer",
"public health entity" or "public health
authorities". Their attempt is to creat "two
Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan"
internationally. Their act is to take advantage of the
current epidemic, unacceptable both in terms of morality and
reason and against the purposes and principles of the UN and
WHO.
Brundtland said the WHO highly appraises
the effective measures taken and the great efforts made by
the Chinese government in the prevention and treatment of
the SARS epidemic, and is satisfied with bilateral
cooperation. She said that the spread of SARS reminds the
international community of the importance of building public
health system. She pointed out that the Taiwan issue has
been resolved in the World Health Assembly over the past few
years. She does not want this issue to disturb the WHO's
focus on handling of the SARS epidemic and other major
issues in the world health area.
Wu also met
with Bangladeshi Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf
Hossain, who is to chair the current World Health Assembly,
and Greek Health Minister Kostas Stefanis on separate
occasions. Wu briefed them on the Chinese delegation's
expectations of the assembly. She emphasized that currently,
traditional and non-traditional security issues interwine.
Outbreak of epidemics and other emergencies have brought
about an unprecedented impact on countries. The current
assembly should have in-depth discussions and find proper
counter measures. She also talked about China's measures to
effectively prevent and treat SARS and the latest
developments, pointing out that the Chinese government has
established an open and transparent reporting system on the
epidemic, improved rapid reaction and social relife systems,
increase financial investment by a large margin, and
strengthen treatment and prevention work. She said that
although the fight against SARS is a complicated and
difficult process, we will claim final victory on the
serious epidemic. Wu also reiterated the Chinese
government's position on issues related to
Taiwan.
Bangladeshi Health Minister Khandaker
Mosharraf Hossain said that the threat of SARS took the
world by surprise. He is full of admiration for the Chinese
people's courage, wisdom, determination and confidence in
their fight against SARS. China's efforts to prevent SARS
and the experiences accumulated are contributions to the
whole humankind.
Health Minister Kostas
Stefanis of Greece, which holds the rotary presidency of the
EU, spoke highly of China's efforts the fight against SARS
and cooperation with the international community. He said
that SARS is a common threat faced by the humankind. China's
work is of uttermost importance in prevent the spreading of
SARS. The EU would like to provide necessary assistance to
China. He also said that the EU resolutely upholds the One
China policy, and it is regrettable that Taiwan-related
issues again come up in the current World Health Assembly.
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