China and the World Health Organization (WHO) will further strengthen co-operation against the backdrop of the killer SARS outbreak.

The message was conveyed on Friday during separate meetings between visiting WHO Director-General nominee Jong Wook Lee and Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

China has attached great importance to the role of the WHO in the global health cause, said Wu, who is also the minister of health. She hailed the China-WHO co-operation as fruitful.

Wu's sentiments were echoed by Li, who said China will continue to support the work of the WHO.

Lee, PhD, said he will devote himself to promoting WHO-China co-operation after he takes office.

Lee, who will replace current WHO head Gro Harlem Brundtland if his nomination for the position is confirmed in July by the World Health Assembly, said the WHO and Chinese health officials at the highest level are working very closely.

Lee said he expected China to provide more and better information.

"About the quality of the data, it is my impression that we (the WHO, Beijing and the Ministry of Health) are doing our best,'' Lee said.

"It is very positive that we (the WHO and Chinese health officials) can discuss all the issues very openly.''

Noting that the greatest problem now is in big cities like Beijing, Lee said it is too early to say whether the disease has peaked in the capital.

Lee also held talks with Executive Vice-Minister of Health Gao Qiang on Friday.

Lee, during his one-day visit, was greeted by a confident Chinese cabinet.

According to a Chinese spokesman, Wu told Lee that the Chinese Government was giving top priority to the health and safety of its people and China is confident in its ability to beat SARS.

Lee showed deference to the Chinese Government and people's courage, and wished the nation success to bring the disease under control.

(China Daily May 10, 2003)