The central government of China has shown flexibility in agreeing that Taiwanese experts attend the World Health Organization meeting on SARS being held in Malaysia, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Tuesday.

At a press conference, Liu said, since Taiwan has been seriously affected by SARS, the central government has agreed that the five experts invited by the WHO can attend the meeting.

This decision demonstrates the central government's concern for the health and welfare of the Taiwanese people, as well as its flexibility and sincerity in dealing with technical issues, Liu said.

He said the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have various communication channels, and in the field of health and medicine, hundreds of groups and thousands of people engage in exchanges each year. The invitation to attend this meeting was made by the central government through such channels.

The Chinese delegation is being headed by Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang, the spokesman said.

The two-day conference has attracted some 100 scientists and officials who have been on the front line in the fight against SARS.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2003)