The State Council on Friday decided to establish the National Bird Flu Prevention Headquarters in an effort to intensify the prevention and control work on bird flu.

Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu was appointed director-general of the headquarters, and State Councilor Hua Jianmin was appointed deputy director-general.

The headquarters consists of the State Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs.

The headquarters office was located in the Ministry of Agriculture.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2004)