$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.