China will actively participate in South-to-South cooperation in the field of population and development, said Zhang Weiqing, minister of the State Family Planning Commission, Thursday.

At the annual board meeting of the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) through South-to-South cooperation, Zhang said that China is willing cooperate with member countries of the organization to conduct inter-governmental exchange visits, personnel training, bilateral exchanges, export of contraception medicines and instruments, sex education, prevention of AIDS and venereal diseases and health care of women.

Zhang said that South-to-South cooperation is a major way for developing countries to enhance their unity and self-reliance and to achieve common development.

Exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened to boost a sustainable development between population, economy, society, resources and environment, he said.

PPD is an intergovernmental alliance, founded in 1994 to improve and accelerate the transfer of expertise in reproductive health and family planning through South-to-South cooperation.

China joined the organization in 1997. Member countries of PPD now include Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Egypt, the Gambia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

During the five-day meeting in Beijing, more than 100 participants will exchange expertise on AIDS prevention, sex education among youth and new products for contraception medicines and instruments and reproductive health products.

(Xinhua 11/02/2000)