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$10m earmarked to fight against bird flu
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-18 12:22
The Chinese government will donate 10 million U.S. dollars to support the
global fight against avian influenza, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here
Wednesday.
China Premier Wen
Jiabao gives a speech at the International Pledging Conference on Avian
and Human Pandemic Influenza in Beijing January 18, 2006.
[Reuters] | "The Chinese government will continue
to provide assistance within our capacity to the neighbouring countries and
those needed," Wen said at the Ministerial Session of the International Pledging
Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza.
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 not only
impacted the economy and social development, but also severely endangered the
health and life of the local people.
To support the global fight against avian influenza, the Chinese government
will donate 10 million U.S. dollars, he said.
Describing bird flu prevention and control as a long-term, arduous task, the
premier said it needs not only the "unremitting efforts" of all countries
concerned, but also closer cooperation of the international community.
He called for developed countries, international organizations such as the
World Bank, and transnational companies to make greater contribution to raise
funds to fight against bird flu.
"We expect countries to actively donate, and offer support to the
establishement 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 "timely" and
"sufficient" financial help to those developing countries severely affected by
bird flu without additional requirements and based on respecting the sovereignty
of those countries.
The outcome of the conference will have important influence over the global
prevention and control of the bird flu, Wen stressed.
China attaches great importance to and has played an active role in the
international cooperation on bird flu prevention and control, Wen said.
China has reported its avian and human influenza cases to the concerned
international organizations and countries according to the principle of
timeliness, openness and transparency, and sponsored and attended a series of
international meetings on bird flu prevention and control, he said.
Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and regions and 20
international organizations attended the conference in a bid to pool financial
resources to curb the spread of bird flu.
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