Preparatory Meeting For The APEC Ministerial Meeting On Avian And Influenza Pandemics
Distinguished delegates,
At the onset, on behalf of the host country, I would like to extend our warmest greetings to all the distinguished delegates from the APEC economy members and international organizations to the Preparation Meeting for the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian and Influenza Pandemics to be held at Da Nang City of Vietnam from 4 to 6 May 2006. The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian and Influenza Pandemics is an important and significant event during the APEC YEAR 2006 in Vietnam because Avian Influenza is a theme of global concerns at present. For the last three years, the world has witnessed the occurrence and spreading of Avian Influenza from a few countries in Southeast Asia in late 2003 to many parts of the world from East Asia to Africa and Europe presently. The catastrophe of Avian Influenza lies in the fact that the virus is not only a killer of poultry but also of human beings. So far it was recorded 205 human cases from 9 countries infected with the deadly Avian Influenza virus and up to 113 people among them died- a very high fatality rate of 55.1%.
In recognition of Avian Influenza as a global disaster, efforts have been made to bring the world together in the combat to control Avian Influenza and prevent a possible Influenza Pandemic. Within the APEC economies, a high level meeting on Avian Influenza was held in Brisbane, Australia on 31 October to 1 November 2005. And again in these days, the APEC Ministerial Meeting is being held in Da Nang, Vietnam. These hectic activities indicate the determination and mounting efforts of the APEC economy members to join hands together and in union with the world community for controlling Avian and preventing Influenza Pandemics.
To facilitate the Ministerial Meeting, in the Preparatory Meeting today, the delegates will discuss on the following topics:
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Strengthening of cooperation among APEC economy members in preparing for and preventing Avian and Influenza Pandemics;
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Preparation of the APEC Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Avian and Influenza Pandemics to be submitted to the APEC Ministers for endorsement, and
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Preparation of the Ministerial Meeting Agenda.
I do hope that with the spirit of APEC, the delegates of this Meeting will work with cooperation, friendship and responsibility to contribute to the success of the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian and Influenza Pandemics.
I wish you all a pleasant stay at Da Nang, a beautiful beach city of Vietnam.
Thank you.