Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders on Saturday agreed to take urgent actions to prevent the spread of the bird flu.

"We endorsed the APEC Initiative on Preparing for and Mitigating an Influenza Pandemic, which commits our economies to effective surveillance, transparency and openness, and close domestic, regional and international coordination and collaboration," said a statement adopted by the 21 APEC leaders.

The leaders also committed to multi-sectoral preparedness planning, timely data and sample sharing, science-based decision- making regarding trade and travel, and early implementation consistent to the revised International Health Regulations, according to the statement.

Moreover, the leaders agreed on collective, practical measures, such as strengthening cooperation and technical assistance among APEC economies to limit avian influenza at its source and prevent human outbreaks; developing a list of available and funded regional experts and capabilities for responding rapidly to pandemic influenza in its early stages.

They agreed on testing pandemic preparedness, beginning with a desk-top simulation exercise in early 2006 to test regional responses and communication networks.

The leaders agreed to "enhancing public and business outreach and risk communication; and exchanging information on border screening procedures and controls to increase transparency and to reduce risk to trade and travelers," the statement said.

The leaders also extended their support effort of the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization and OIE (world organization for animal health), and the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza.

The two-day APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting was concluded on Saturday on the South Korean second largest city of Busan.

In the past one week, the APEC forum, including Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting, Business Advisory Council meeting, Ministerial Meeting, CEO Summit as well as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting were held in the port city.

APEC members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China 's Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua