China is taking measures to ensure the health and safety of the
delegates to the upcoming 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Economic
Ministers' Meeting, said an official with the Ministry of Commerce
Friday.
Yi
Xiaozhun, director of the Department of International Trade and
Economic Affairs of the Ministry, said at a press conference that
China will ensure that the meeting is "perfectly safe."
The meeting will be held in the northeastern port city of Dalian
from July 22 to 24. The meeting is the biggest and highest-level
international event held in China since the defeat of SARS.
Some 19 member countries have registered, and about 300 delegates
are expected to participate in the meeting, said Yi.
He
said China has been preparing for the meeting since September.
Dalian has set up a preparatory committee for the meeting, which is
headed by Mayor Xia Deren, said Wang Youwei, deputy director of the
preparatory committee.
Wang said Dalian will provide state-of-the-art technical support in
the areas of anti-terrorism, SARS prevention and food safety.
As
of July 4, no new SARS cases have been reported in Dalian for 31
consecutive days. Dalian is on the Ministry of Health's list of
areas not affected by SARS, said Wang.
(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2003)