At a summer evening party held at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Li said, "right now, our national fight against SARS has achieved a great success. People's lives and production activities have returned to normal, and the economic growth target set for the year is well within reach."

He expressed his thanks to the diplomats, saying the international community had come to the aid of the Chinese people's fight against SARS by providing substantial amounts of assistance in the form of information, materials, funds and technology.

"The warm friendship from people across the world will spur us to concentrate more attentively on economic development while making continued efforts to promote world peace ad common development," the minister said.

At the party, Eleih-Elle Etian, head of the foreign diplomatic mission and Cameroon ambassador to China, congratulated China on its achievements in the fight against SARS.

"We are also grateful for the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard the health of foreign diplomats here," he said.

Only a great people can face major challenges and the Chinese people once again proved their greatness in the face of SARS, he said.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and about 300 foreign diplomats and their spouses attended the party.

(People's Daily July 18, 2003)