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)