APEC Action Plan on SARS endorsed by Senior Officials - To be presented to Ministers on Monday
Senior Officials from APEC's 21 Member Economies have endorsed the proposed APEC Action Plan on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The plan will now be presented to APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade when they meet on June 2.
APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said Senior Officials meeting in Khon Kaen, Thailand, emphasized that SARS is as much an economic problem as it is a health issue.
"SARS has had a negative impact on business in the region and undermined the wellbeing of the global economy," Ambassador Milintachinda said.
"Restoring public confidence is paramount so that business returns to normalcy.
"In the spirit of regional cooperation, APEC members are undertaking a number of collective measures outlined in the APEC Action Plan on SARS.
"These actions are designed to overcome the economic damage caused by SARS. The Action Plan is also a heartening illustration of APEC's responsiveness to this regional crisis."
The APEC Action Plan on SARS includes short-term initiatives relating to the exchange of information and the adoption of common guiding principles on border health screening.
In the medium to long-term, the plan includes initiatives to minimize the impact of SARS on sectors such as tourism, trade and business mobility.
The action plan also includes measures to promote cooperation to develop common standards for the monitoring and reporting of infectious diseases.
The APEC Action Plan on SARS aims to build public confidence through:
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Developing a common set of principles for health screening procedures for air travelers,
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Encouraging cooperation towards the prevention and treatment of SARS along with other emerging diseases; and
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Exchanging accurate and timely information, ensuring best practices, and implementing a communications strategy that addresses the consequences of SARS on travel.
The Action Plan also recommends a Special Meeting of APEC Health Ministers to take place in Bangkok on June 28.
The APEC Action Plan on SARS will be available for public release after it has been considered by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen on June 2.