Harm is the fifth biggest cause of death in China, killing some 800,000 people out of 70 million harmed in a year, according to experts attending an ongoing national conference on harm prevention and control held in Guangzhou. 

Suicide stands as the biggest cause of death in harm cases, killing 250,000 to 350,000 people each year. The number of those killed in vehicle accidents ranks the second. And the third cause is drowning, said the experts.

The World Bank forecast that in 2010 some 1.4 million Chinese will die of harm and the number will rise to 2.5 million by 2030.

Experts noted, however, that if authorities incorporate prevention of harm into the country's disease prevention and control system, the death toll will be approximately 900,000 by 2010, some 500,000 less than the predicted number.

They suggested that Chinese governments at all levels establish a harm prevention system with the coordination of various departments, and medical departments in particular should set up a mechanism to provide emergency supporting services.

In the meantime, people should be educated to prevent harm and violence, said the experts.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2004)