[DEBATE] : China assures support of antiviral drugs to ASEAN members

[Riaz K Tayob]

China assures support of antiviral drugs to ASEAN members
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13:50, May 07, 2009
The bilateral meeting between Thai and Chinese health ministers on 
Thursday yielded good results as Beijing ensured the support for 
influenza A/H1N1 medicines, said the Thai Health Ministry in a statement.

After the meeting with Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu in Bangkok 
Thursday morning, Thai Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said 
that they discussed the Chinese preparation for the antiviral drugs for 
the new strain of influenza. China is reputed as a major power with 
immense potential to undergo large-scale production of antiviral medicines.

The bilateral talks came right before the launch of ASEAN Plus Three 
health ministers' special meeting on Influenza A/H1N1, which is 
scheduled to be held on May 7 and 8 in Bangkok, involving health 
ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member 
states and the Plus Three countries -- China, Japan and the Republic of 
Korea. The aim of the regional special meetingis to seek more efficient 
and collaborative measures to tackle thethreat of the flu to the region.

Witthaya told reporters that China has prepared for the possible 
outbreak, and that Chen assured if there is a major outbreak in ASEAN 
countries, China is willing to mobilize its support in terms of 
antiviral medicines as well as vaccine development for every ASEAN member.

Clusters of A/H1N1 flu outbreaks have appeared in multiple locations in 
Mexico, the United States and then across the world, taking the death 
toll of at least 31 since the first infection case was reported on 17 
March. Hong Kong confirmed the first A/H1N1 flu infected case in Asia on 
May 1. According to the report of the World Health Organization, at 
least 1,893 confirmed cases have been found in 23 countries globally.

Source:Xinhua

China assures support of antiviral drugs to ASEAN members - People's 
Daily Online (7 May 2009)

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6653000.html