Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for global cooperation in the fight against A/H1N1 influenza, in order to better protect the people's health and lives.

Li made the remarks at the International Scientific Symposium on Influenza A/H1N1 Pandemic Response and Preparedness, hosted by China's Ministry of Health with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Lancet.

The two-day event attracted nearly 1,000 officials and experts from more than 30 countries and regions.

In his opening address at the symposium, Li said China, with a population of 1.3 billion, had taken a series of decisive measures to effectively slow down the spread of the virus in the country.

The country also offered help to a number of developing countries to fight the influenza, and won support from those countries and the WHO, he said.

Warning of a possible mutation of the influenza, China was currently accelerating its development and reserve of drugs and vaccines for the A/H1N1 virus, Li said.

He called on the international community to join hands in curbing the spread of major infectious diseases, including the A/H1N1 influenza, in the world.

"China is willing to enhance its cooperation with the world, to strengthen our abilities to deal with public health incidents and effectively curb major infectious diseases, in order to contribute to the health of the people in China and in the world," he said.

The Chinese mainland reported 2,976 cases of the A/H1N1 influenza as of Thursday afternoon. More than 2,650 infected people have recovered.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang addresses the International Scientific Symposium on Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic Response and Preparedness in Beijing, capital of China, August 21, 2009. [Xinhua]   Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang addresses the International Scientific Symposium on Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic Response and Preparedness in Beijing, capital of China, August 21, 2009. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2009)