Addressing a plenary meeting of the State Council, Wen said the SARS situation across the country had been stabilizing, but there was no reason for excessive optimism and lowering of the guard.

The situation of SARS prevention and treatment remained serious and the fight was still arduous, he warned.

New cases had been reported every day in some areas and the numbers of confirmed or suspected cases were still high, the premier explained.

The period of decreasing numbers of new cases in Beijing and other key affected areas was still very short and there remained "weak links" and loopholes in the prevention and treatment work with the potential spread of the disease in rural areas, he said.

There was still no effective prevention, diagnosis and cure for the disease, the premier said.

He renewed his call for maintaining economic development during the fight against SARS.

Generally speaking, the economic situation across China was good with fast economic growth and improved returns, but some sectors had been hard hit by the SARS outbreak, he said, adding it was important for the nation to have a sufficient awareness of the economic effects of the disease.

He identified six major areas where the country should redouble efforts for the rest of the year to make up the losses caused by SARS, and realize social and economic development targets.

They included the implementation of the policy of boosting domestic demand and pro-active fiscal policy, more funding in public health, foreign trade and investment.

He called for efforts to help investors from outside the Chinese mainland overcome difficulties in business operations, and to offer assistance to the needy.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2003)