Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday spoke highly of the special meeting among ASEAN and Chinese leaders on the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) held in Bangkok Tuesday.

Upon his arrival from Thailand Wednesday afternoon, Hun Sen told reporters at the Phnom Penh international airport that "it is very important to hold such a summit at such a moment."

"ASEAN countries and China pledged to join efforts to combat SARS at the summit. It will not only greatly benefit Cambodia but also the whole region as well as the world to control and prevent the deadly disease," the premier said.

The leaders of ASEAN members and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held a special summit in Bangkok Tuesday and hammered out a common strategy to fight SARS.

Cambodia has yet to report a single case of SARS, but the government has taken some measures to prevent and contain the disease. Cambodia has also held its own internal meetings on SARS, bring together officials from health, law enforcement and foreign affairs.

During the summit, Hun Sen held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. And both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the rapid development of ties between he two countries.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)