UN System Coordinator for Influenza Dr. David Nabarro has visited Beijing to discuss China's role in the international control of avian influenza and preparation for dealing with any possible influenza pandemic.
Dr. David Nabarro commends the Chinese Government for what it has done domestically to contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and also China's significant contribution to the world campaign against HPAI.
During his two-day visit, Dr. Nabarro, Dr. Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator in China and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, met with the Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, who leads China's Avian Influenza Command Centre. The meeting with the Vice Premier focused on the important role that China is playing in the global battle against avian influenza and on ways to strengthen further China's participation in regional and international technical and political partnerships.
Dr. Nabarro also met with senior leaders in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss China's involvement in the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI) and the upcoming meeting of IPAPI to be held in Vienna in June 2006.
China's willingness to assist other affected countries in the fight against avian influenza and preparedness for possible human pandemic were also discussed.
