The Chinese government welcomes Taiwan medical and health experts to join the Chinese delegation to attend the 57th World Health Assembly in May this year, a mainland health official said in Beijing on May 12.

Wang Liji, deputy director of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office with the Ministry of Health, made the remarks at a regular briefing held by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Wang said that the Foreign Ministry spokesman clearly stated the stand of the central government on Tuesday on the question of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly as an observer.

Wang said that the central government has been always concerned over the health of the Taiwan people and has always promoted exchanges and cooperation on health across the straits to help Taiwan acquire relevant information.

With the permission of the central government, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have been to Taiwan several times to learn about SARS and other diseases there, and the Taiwan experts have also participated in the WHO special meetings on SARSand cancer on the basis of the consultation between the Chinese mainland and the WHO.

Wang pointed out that the Chinese delegation to attend the assembly consists of experts from Hong Kong and Macao, but regrettably, the Taiwan authorities have not made a positive response to the mainland so far.

Source: Xinhua