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| Cross－straits exchanges on SARS called |
| CCTV.COM 2003-04-11 14:04:43 |
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China said it hopes to have full exchanges and co－operation with experts of the Taiwan region to combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, together.
Officials from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Health said that China will work with the World Health Organization to provide technical support to Taiwan as long as the island forwards a request.
Officials from the Ministry of Health said that the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have a comprehensive exchange mechanism regarding SARS, but cross－Straits exchanges are only limited to a few experts.
Liu Peilong, director of HK, Macao & Taiwan Office, Ministry of Health, said: "We have a regular exchange mechanism with the Hong Kong SAR. We even have the highest level meeting between the health minister and a top Hong Kong health official. Everyday, we brief each other on the latest developments by telephone or fax. Now the cooperation on SARS is worldwide. I don't see any reason that the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region can't do this. We'd like to have a smooth channel with Taiwan. We'll also work together with the World Health Organization to provide technical support as long as the island forwards its request."
As of April 8, Taiwan has seen 20 reported SARS cases. No death has been reported.
Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Respiratory Disease Research Institute, said that now that the Chinese mainland has summarized some effective ways to contain the disease, it is important for doctors from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan to have close cooperation.
Zhong said: "After this period of research, even though the pathogen hasn't been discovered, we have found some effective treatment to reduce complications and shorten the period of sickness. And we hope to exchange ideas with Taiwan experts. I think China has the best chance of finally discovering the pathogen if the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan all join hands."
He said that the key is to develop a vaccine against SARS.
"In the US, they said it will take three years. In other countries, they said one year. I think if we have good cooperation, it will take six months to a year to work it out," Zhong added.
Meanwhile, Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the Ministry of Education has postponed the scheduled post－graduate examination for Taiwan students from this month to June.
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Editor: Xiao Wei CCTV.com
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