China assures support of antiviral drugs to ASEAN members

Source: Xinhua | 05-07-2009 14:43

BANGKOK, May 7 (Xinhua) -- 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.