A spokesman of the Ministry of Health said Friday that the central government was concerned aboutthe health and well-being of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan.

Liu Peilong said the central government had been closely following the development of the SARS epidemic in Taiwan.

The central government would continue to conduct various forms of exchange and cooperation with Taiwan, he said.

He hoped to continue cross-Straits sharing of information, experience and achievements on SARS prevention and control to curbSARS as soon as possible.

The Chinese government has agreed to the World Health Organization (WHO) sending experts to review the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) situation in Taiwan, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2003)