China is ready to strengthen health cooperation and exchanges with the international society and contribute to the conquest of human diseases and the progress of international health drive, said Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi on Monday.

Wu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 55th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific held in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai.

Nowadays, traditional communicable diseases and chronic non-communicable disease are becoming greater burdens. The spread of new types of diseases like HIV/AIDS is becoming more serious. The health development gap between the developed and developing countries is widening. All these pose challenges to health undertakings of the world, said Wu.

"In recent years, outbreaks and spread of emerging communicable diseases have shown that only by enhancing capacity building in the public health field and promoting international cooperation, can we effectively face up to emergent public health hazards," said Wu.

She noted that the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has effectively prevented and controlled the spread of many serious diseases and supported the development of public health in the region. "As a member of this regional office, China is ready to strengthen health cooperation and exchanges with other members in the region and contribute to conquering various diseases threatening mankind and promoting the international health development," she said.

About 300 representatives from 36 countries and areas in the Western Pacific including health ministers and members from inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations attend the five-day session.

They will discuss major health issues including the reoccurrence of SARS, new human deaths from avian influenza, food safety, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, tobacco control, measles, hepatitis B and international cooperation in public health emergencies. China dispatched a delegation headed by the Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang.

China has attended all the meetings since 1973 except 1981. The capital Beijing hosted the 38th annual session in 1987. Hong Kong and Macao have hosted the event as well.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2004)