Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi said Monday that the China had the confidence, resolve, and capacity to finally overcome severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the country.

Meeting with delegates attending a conference convened in Beijing Sunday to boost SARS-related entry-exit quarantine cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Wu said the meeting was a follow-up to the initiatives proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Special China-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on SARS held on April 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.

She said the meeting demonstrated the determined and concerted efforts of China and the ASEAN countries to contain the epidemic, and would promote personnel exchanges and trade and economic cooperation between the two sides.

Any epidemic knows no border, and only through regional and international cooperation can it be brought under effective control, Wu noted.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2003)