The State Population and Family Planning Commission will launch a government contraceptive procurement scheme for the year 2004 at a reproductive health exposition to be held in northeast China's Dalian City from Oct. 25 to 28.
Vice-minister of the commission Wang Guoqiang said at a press conference in Beijing Wednesday that central and local governments spend 400 million yuan (about US$48.2 million) each year on the purchase of contraceptives for couples of childbearing age.
Over 400 enterprises and government institutions are expected to take part in the Second Family Planning and Reproductive Health Exposition where showpieces range from condoms, reagents for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, health care products for menopausal women and sterility treatments.
Meanwhile, the commission will exhibit newly developed research achievements such as postnatal medical technology.
The first such exposition in both China and the world was held in Beijing on July 11, 2001, drawing worldwide attention.
This time, a number of international organizations and businesses from many countries have expressed their wish to participate in the exposition, which will also include lectures and symposiums.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2003)