APEC Health Ministers Convene on SARS

The APEC Health Ministers' Meeting on SARS at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 28 will draw the attendance of ministers from many APEC member economies.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said although convened at short notice, the attendance of so many ministers and senior officials confirms the importance APEC member economies attach to the issue of SARS and regaining normalcy post-SARS.

"It has been confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister of China, Madame Wu Yi, will be traveling to the meeting," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"It will be interesting to hear Madame Wu Yi's views of the SARS epidemic particularly with Beijing having just been removed from the WHO travel warning list.

"There will also be valuable input from other ministers of economies that have implemented a range of measures to contain the virus ranging from Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and the ASEAN region.

"This meeting will also give APEC Health Ministers the opportunity to identify measures to rebuild traveler confidence and implement measures to overcome future disease threats."

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, will officially open the APEC Health Minister's meeting on Saturday.

Senior Officials from APEC member economies will meet on June 27 prior to the Ministers' meeting.

Program for the APEC Health Ministers' Meeting, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 09:30-15:00

Main Agenda Items:

The Official Press Conference will be hosted by the Minister of Public Health and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand from 14:30 to 1500.

Media wishing to attend the opening ceremony or the final Press Conference must register with the Department of Information at the Thai Minister for Foreign Affairs. Contact Mr. Puttaporn Ewtoksan at [email protected] or Tel: 66 (0)2 643 5105