China and the World Health Organization (WHO) have already set up a sound cooperation mechanism on preventing human cases of highly contagious avian flu, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang in Beijing Thursday.

Qin confirmed at a regular press conference that the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided the virus samples of human cases of the disease in December 2005.

Qin stressed, "China's provision of the samples has proven China's sincerity and determination to cooperate with relevant international organizations on the prevention and control of bird flu."

China reported six human cases of bird flu this year. Its Ministry of Health approved the request of the WHO Beijing Office for such virus samples this month.

Source: Xinhua