Your Excellency Prime Minister Hun Sen,

Distinguished Colleagues,

It is my great honor to attend the Special China-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on SARS.I am exceptionally pleased to meet with leaders of ASEAN countries for the first time since I became the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

A short while ago, leaders of ten ASEAN members held a special summit, where they reached a broad consensus on cooperation to control SARS and agreed on a number of plans of actions.The Chinese Government firmly supports ASEAN in its approach and actions,convinced that its efforts will make a positive contribution to the worldwide battle against SARS.The summit also called for closer cooperation with China.The Chinese Government appreciates this.

The SARS epidemic that has continued to spread in some countries and regions poses a grave threat to the life and health of mankind.SARS is a new type of contagious disease, yet to be fully understood by mankind. Up to date, there is neither specific effective method of diagnosis and treatment for it, nor a full understanding of its epidemiology. In face of the outbreak of this sudden epidemic, we lack experience with its prevention and control. The crisis management mechanism and the work of certain localities and departments are not quite adequate.Due to these factors and, in particular, China's huge and highly mobile population, we are still faced with a serious situation despite a great deal of hard work,Right now, places like Guangdong, which have seen the onset of SARS rather early, still report new cases, though small in number.The number of SARS cases in Beijing, Shanxiand Inner Mongoliais rising noticeably.The situation has yet to be brought fully under control and there is the tendency of SARS spreading to most regions of China.

As a highly responsible government that dares to face difficulties squarely, the Chinese Government always gives top priority to the health and safety of life of the people.We have, and will continue to take resolute steps to turn around the situation.

First, strengthening prevention across the board to contain the spread of disease.The Chinese government has made SARS a statutory epidemic under the country's legislation, and established an open and transparent system for epidemic reporting and news release.We report SARS statistics to the WHO on a daily basis, and make the information public to the communities in the meantime.By ensuring early detection, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment, we have done everything possible to ensure effective control of infection source. We have imposed strict quarantine and prevention measures in public transit systems, major locations and ports of exit and entry.Guarding against cross infection in hospitals, we have placed all confirmed SARS patients and suspect patients under quarantine for treatment, and all contaminated areas and articles have been medically treated. People having had close contact with them are quarantined for medical observation.Work units and places identified as high-risk epidemic areas have been isolated in accordance with law.Besides, we have conducted publicity campaigns on disease prevention to increase the citizens' awareness and capability for self-protection so that prevention can be ensured with mass participation.

Second, going all out to treat SARS patients and setting up the SARS funds.China's provinces, regions and municipalities have designated special hospitals and enlarged medical facilities to bring timely treatment to SARS patients.Efforts were made to ensure adequate supply of medicine and improve hospital facilities for SARS treatment and control.The central government has allocated RMB 2 billion yuanfor the establishment of a SARS fund, to be used mainly for the treatment of SARS patients from rural background or needy urban families and for emergency upgrading of county-level hospitals in the impoverished areas of central and western China and their purchase of medical equipment for treating SARS patients. Local governments have also made special funds available for SARS prevention and treatment. We have attached great importance to SARS control in rural areas and taken all necessary measures, including offering free medical care for rural-based SARS patients and on-site treatment for farmer patients who have come to work in the cities so as to prevent SARS from spreading to the countryside.

Thirdly, establishing an epidemic contingency mechanism and enhancing the capacity for emergency management.We lost no time in establishing and improving a national public health contingency response mechanism, a disease monitoring and data collection and sharing network and a collaborative network of laboratories.The central government has allocated RMB 3.5 billion yuanfor infrastructure development of a national disease control system, and the construction of the ChinaCenterfor Disease Control and Prevention.

Fourthly, stepping up critical SARS research and exploring effective methods of diagnosis and treatment.We have mobilized multi-disciplinary experts across the country to look for the cause of the SARS epidemic, and study new methods of diagnosis and treatment.We have developed an agent for quick diagnosis which is being improved and tested clinically. Efforts are also made to research and develop drugs and equipment for SARS prevention and treatment. The central government has set aside special fund for SARS research and development.

Fifthly, enhancing cooperation with the international community and drawing on others' successful experience.We have actively engaged in cooperation with the WHO and other international organizations, discussing with them ways to treat SARS patients, control the epidemic and investigate the cause of the disease.We highly value the useful advice by WHO experts after their field inspections and have acted upon them.We welcome the understanding, support, desires and willingness for cooperation shown by the international community for China's SARS prevention efforts.We will keep up our cooperation and exchanges with the WHO and other countries.

China's central government attaches great importance to the SARS situation in Hong Kong, Macaoand Taiwan.We are deeply concerned about the health and safety of life of our compatriots there. We have set up a SARS-control liason mechanism with Hong Kongand Macao. Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is here for the meeting as a principal member of the Chinese delegation.The central government will take all necessary measures and give full support to help Hong Kongcontain the disease.Every preparation has been made to ensure Hong Kongwill receive all the medical supplies and medical care personnel that it may need, and all the expenses incurred will be borne by the central government. In the meantime, we have actively conducted various forms of cooperation and exchanges with the Taiwanregion in epidemic control.

We are keenly aware of the arduous, complex and relapsing nature of SARS prevention and treatment and are fully prepared in all aspects to confront it.The Chinese Government is confident that, with unremitting efforts, this colossal scourge of SARS will be defeated in the end.

Distinguished colleagues,

All diseases, particularly new infectious diseases of unknown causes, are common enemies to mankind.The cross-boundary spread of SARS poses a common challenge to the world and to our region in particular.It can only be effectively countered by cooperated efforts at the regional and international levels.The Chinese Government will, as always, endeavor to come to grips with the SARS problem with a veryresponsible attitude, just like what it did with the Asian financial crisis.Out of its sincere desire for closer coordination and cooperation with the ASEAN countries, the Chinese Government wishes to make the following suggestions:

First, to establish a reporting mechanism with respect to epidemic and disease prevention and treatment.We should move immediately to establish a China-ASEAN reporting network on SARS situation, treatment and research, timely brief each other on the epidemic situation in accordance with mutually agreed standards, rules and methods, share each other's successful experience and R&D achievements in SARS control and step up bilateral communication, consultation and coordination in SARS prevention and treatment.

Second, to carry out exchanges of experience and go for cooperated SARS research.While suggesting a high level international seminar in May for the two sides to compare notes on this issue, we are ready to play host to this event.In the meantime, we suggest that cooperated research and personnel training programs be arranged in such areas as the patterns of SARS transmission, SARS nosogenesis and SARS clinical diagnosis.Chinahas decided to pledge RMB 10 million yuanin a special fund to support a variety of bilateral programs with the ASEAN countries.

Third, to accelerate the bilateral health cooperation process.The 10+1 health cooperation mechanism should be established as soon as possible, focusing on SARS prevention and treatment for the time being and holding the 10+1 health ministers' meeting at an appropriate time.

Fourth, to coordinate the border exit and entry control measures. It is recommended that competent officials in charge of border exit and entry control meet at an early date to coordinate respective national policies and measures so as to alleviate the impact of SARS on normal personnel exchanges between the two sides.

Fifth, to do everything possible to minimize the adverse effect of SARS.SARS has brought about a multi-faceted adverse impact on the region's economic and social development. We propose for a China-ASEAN workshop to look into possible counter-measures.I would like to mention here that, as SARS control makes progress in China, we will gradually resume group travel programs to ASEAN countries and take effective health quarantine measures accordingly.

Distinguished colleagues,

Chinaand ASEAN are good neighbors, good partners and good friends.To strengthen our good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust with ASEAN is an important component of China's diplomacy.The profound friendship and all-around cooperation between us are the results of many years of meticulous care and efforts.SARS will not in any way spoil our relations.The joint battle against SARS can only further solidify our friendship and cooperation.The current Chinese government will continue to bededicated to deeper friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN.We are committed to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and are ready to expedite the negotiation process with the ASEAN side.The Chinese Government has decided to enter into the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, hoping that the two sides could accelerate the relevant legal procedures.With the issuance of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Field of Non-traditional Security Issues last year, it is all the more necessary, given the current situation, for the two sides to actively implement the follow-up measures by carrying out concrete and effective cooperation.

As an old Chinese saying goes, "Danger and safety are often interchangeable, as disaster and happiness beget each other".The great peoples of Asiahave had a fine tradition of self-strengthening in times of adversity.China-ASEAN cooperation has a solid foundation.I am convinced that so long as we are united as one to jointly tackle the temporary hardships, we will surely overcome the SARS epidemic, tide over the crisis and usher in even greater prosperity and development in Asiaas a whole and particularly in our own region.

Thank you.