China to donate US$ 10m for global bird flu control
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-18 10:22

The Chinese government has decided to offer US$ 10 million on fighting against avian influenza around the whole world, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Beijing Wednesday.

"The Chinese government will continue to provide assistance within our capacity to the neighbouring countries and those needed," Wen said at the opening ceremony of a two-day international pledging conference on avian and human pandemic influenza.

He called for developed countries, international organizations such as the World Bank, and transnational companies to make greater contribution to raise funds to fight against bird flu.

"We expect countries to actively donate, and support to set up a financial framework on multilateral assistance on bird flu control during the on-going conference." Wen said.

He also 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.

Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and regions and 20 international organizations attended the conference in a bid to pool financial resources to curb the spread of bird flu.