"We will remain on high alert and continue to implement all preventive and control measures," Wu promised Shigeru Omi, the World Health Organization regional director for the Western Pacific.

Omi, who is in Beijing for a one-day visit at the invitation of China's Ministry of Health, announced Tuesday afternoon that the WHO has removed the Chinese capital from its list of areas with recent local transmission and lifted the travel advisory imposed on the city two months ago.

China plans to adjust the measures which were taken during the state of emergency to suit a sustainable policy which will respond to the evolving situation, said Wu, who is also the country's health minister, during a meeting with Omi.

The State Council, China's cabinet, will soon dispatch supervisory teams to all 31 provinces to evaluate the level of preparedness of local governments for potential future epidemics, she said. "We will spare no effort to prevent the return of SARS."

She promised that the government will give high priority to reinforcing the public health sector and the disease prevention and control system, in addition to improving the mechanism for response to public health emergencies.

Wu and Omi agreed that the above-mentioned plans will constitute part of a long-term program of collaboration between China and the WHO, which will also include the improvement of the health care system in China's vast rural areas.

Meanwhile, the vice premier asked the UN health agency to remain vigilant with regard to attempts by the Taiwan authority to pursue its political aim of acquiring WHO membership by taking advantage of technical issues.

"We have always been concerned about the SARS situation in Taiwan and have maintained an effective communication channel with Taiwan. We'll continue to promote cross-strait cooperation on health issues," Wu said. "But we won't allow Taiwan to achieve its political objectives through technical tactics."

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)