China has made extraordinary achievements in the battle to eliminate iodine deficiency, and over 90 percent of Chinese households have access to iodized salt, said Carol Bellamy, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

She spoke during the International Meeting for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) held Wednesday in Beijing.

"China's success is not only for herself, but also sets splendid examples for other countries," said Bellamy.

When a fetus does not receive adequate iodine, the developing brain cannot establish normal main brain cells, and intellectual and physical capacity are compromised for life.

The World Health Organization's statistics show that among the total one billion population who live in severely iodine deficient areas, China accounts for 40 percent, spread across 30 provinces, cities and autonomous regions.

China committed itself to eliminating IDD at the 1990 UN Summit for Children. China basically accomplished this goal by 2000.

Bellamy said China has a standard mechanism for production and sale of iodized salt, and a more reliable supervision and evaluation system than ever before.

China's success was also attributed to a broad-based alliance involving the Ministry of Health, the salt industry, the education sector, women's organizations and grassroots communities, said Bellamy.

She said that during the three-day meeting, the participants will exchange views on progress and experiences on IDD elimination, and persuade their own governments to continue to offer political commitment and iodized salt.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)