China submitted a statement on the implementation of the 2005 International Health Regulations to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday in Geneva.

The statement says the Chinese government has decided that the regulations apply to the entire territory of the People's Republic of China, including the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, and Taiwan Province.

The Chinese government has started revising the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China to better implement the regulations.

China will develop its capacity to launch a rapid and effective response to public health hazards and emergencies of international concern while establishing a national health emergency response system during the period covered by the 11th Five-year Plan.

It is formulating technical standards for monitoring, assessing, reporting and notifying relevant bodies about public health emergencies of international concern. It has established an inter-agency information sharing and coordination mechanism for implementing the regulation. It has also conducted exchanges with the relevant state parties on the implementation of regulations.

The statement says China endorses and will voluntarily implement the resolution of the 59th World Health Assembly. The resolution calls upon its member states to comply immediately with the International Health Regulation provisions that relate to the risk posed by the avian influenza and pandemic influenza.

(CRIENGLISH.com  May 15, 2007)