There should be no letup in SARS prevention and control efforts and much has to be done to make major breakthroughs in SARS research, treatment and quarantine, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday.

Accordingly, the national SARS prevention and control headquarters shall be maintained, Wen said while meeting with the entire staff of the headquarters prior to its work review conference.

Wen said the Chinese people have achieved significant progress in the containment of SARS, to which the national SARS prevention and control headquarters has made important contributions.

The premier stressed the government will give priority to social issues and public service, step up the construction of public health facilities, and improve the work of public health in rural areas so as to achieve social progress and economic development in a well coordinated way.

Vice Premier Wu Yi, who leads the headquarters, also spoke at the meeting, calling on the staff to sum up the experience, set up research and promote international exchanges in the field of SARS prevention and control, and cooperate with local governments in establishing an effective mechanism to deal with public health emergencies.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2003)