The first ever health ministers meeting of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) was held on Thursday in Yangon to push ahead the cooperative ties between China and the ASEAN in the sector of health.

The meeting discussed issues of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, avian influenza and other emerging infectious diseases (EID), traditional medicine and operationalization of the ASEAN-China Public Health Fund.

Speaking at the meeting, Chinese Vice Minister of Health Wang Longde said China would like to further develop the friendly relationship with ASEAN member countries.

China is one of the countries seriously affected by avian influenza and other EID, but the Chinese government takes people first and considers protection of people's life security and health as the first priority, Wang said.

In dealing with the avian influenza, China has taken such measures as carrying out prevention and control work as well as develop emergency preparatory plans, he added.

He made three suggestions on establishing China-ASEAN epidemic prevention and control mechanism, enhancing capacity building and setting up and improving information exchange.

The first China-ASEAN health ministers meeting took place following the Eight ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting on Wednesday and the Second ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) health ministers' meeting earlier on Thursday.

The China-ASEAN health ministers will hold next meeting in the Philippines in 2008.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua