Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced Wednesday in Beijing that the Chinese government will donate 10 million U.S. dollars to support the global fight against bird flu.

The government will ensure the fund is in place soon, Wen said at the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza, aimed at pooling finance resources for this purpose.

To fortify the global fight against bird flu, Wen suggested the international community should establish a global cooperation mechanism, making full use of the advantages of various regional and sub-regional mechanisms, and drawing out specific measures for joint prevention and control of bird flu.

Bird flu has been spreading in some countries and regions across the world. Globally some 150 confirmed human cases of bird flu have been reported, including 80 deaths.

The spread of the epidemic has not only affected economic and social development of these countries and regions, but also threatened the people's health and lives, the premier said.

It has also posed a threat to regional and global security and stability, he said, adding that to take effective measures in bird flu prevention and control has become the common task facing the international community.

In order to promote global cooperation, Wen proposed the international community set up a monitoring and early warning system against epidemic diseases as soon as possible and help all countries in their capacity building, while intensifying scientific research in the area of epidemiology and medicine development.

Wen also highlighted the role of international organizations, saying the United Nations should fully tap its political strengths to enhance policy coordination, and the World Health Organization should increase technical support to developing countries for this purpose.

Wen called on developed countries, international organizations such as the World Bank, and transnational companies to make greater contribution to raise funds to combat bird flu.

"We hope that they will donate and support the adoption of the Multi-donor Financing Framework for Avian and Human Influenza at this conference." Wen said.

He urged the international community to provide "timely" and "sufficient" financial help to those developing countries severely affected by bird flu without additional requirements and based on respecting the sovereignty of those countries.

China, which last year alone reported 32 bird flu outbreaks including eight human cases, has taken a series of measures against the disease and made new progress, the premier said.

The measures including amendment to the law on pandemic prevention and control, the promulgation of emergency rules to deal with the outbreak of serious animal diseases, the establishment of a surveillance and early warning system covering all provinces.

The country has also set up an inter-departmental and inter-regional coordination mechanism, improved the epidemic reporting system, and through the media, keeps the general public aware of the disease cases and situation, prevention knowledge and corresponding measures.

The government has formulated policies on free vaccine, compensation for farmers in bird flu-affected areas who have their fowls culled, and the support for poultry raising, the premier said.

While making progress in the development of vaccine and medicine for humans and the monitoring of migratory birds, China has strengthened professional training of grassroots medical workers to improve their ability to detect, control and treat epidemic diseases.

"As a responsible member of the international community, China will continue to actively participate in international cooperation in bird flue prevention and control, share our experience with related countries and help them fight the epidemic", Wen stressed.

"China is ready to provide personnel training for ASEAN countries and other neighbors and carry out technical exchanges with countries concerned in epidemiological surveys, early warning and surveillance, laboratory testing, and cooperate with countries and international organizations concerned to develop effective vaccines and drugs against bird flu."

China will, in a timely and accurate manner, report its epidemic situation and preventive efforts to relevant international organizations and countries, and make public the genic sequence of bird-flu virus samples and related information, so as to work with the international community in seeking solutions to avian/human pandemic influenza.

Wen said related international cooperation, which is in full swing, has resulted in remarkable achievements. However, the epidemic situation is still grave and bird flu prevention and control remains a tough job.

He expressed the belief that "through the joint efforts of the international community and all delegates here, we are sure to bring bird flu under control."

The conference was co-sponsored by Chinese government, the European Commission and the World Bank. Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and regions and 20 international organizations attended the conference.

Source: Xinhua