Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday in a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-general Dr. Lee Jong-Wook that China is willing to continue exchanges and cooperation with the WHO.

Commending the fruitful cooperation between China and the WHO, in particular the assistance given by WHO in China's fight against SARS, Hu said that the enhancement of cooperation with the WHO has been a consistent policy adopted by the Chinese government.

China will push forward such cooperation for the promotion of the health of the Chinese people and people worldwide and made due contribution to the development of the international health cause, Hu said.

Hu reiterated China's principled stance on the Taiwan issue. The central government showed much care to the health and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots, he said.

On the basis of the one-China principle, the president said, the central government will adopt active measures to push forward medical exchanges across the Taiwan Straits and lend a hand to enable Taiwan health experts in the international health area.

Lee expressed appreciation for China's effort in combating SARS and bird flu under the leadership of the Chinese government, and highly voiced his good discussions with the Chinese colleagues on construction of a public health system and other issues.

The WHO hopes to have more vigorous cooperation with the Chinese government in the health area, he said.

The WHO has reiterated many times and on various occasions that the organization adheres to the one-China policy and will handle the Taiwan issue in line with the policy.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)