APEC Senior Officials Identify Short and Long Term Common Actions for Overcoming SARS

A special meeting of APEC Senior Officials in Bangkok, Thailand, has endorsed for submission to APEC Health Ministers short and long term common actions to confront the current SARS epidemic.

The plans are intended to facilitate measures to protect against possible outbreaks of similar epidemics in the future while at the same time ensuring the flow of trade and investment.

Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting endorsed proposals to health ministers for a common set of guiding principles for health screening procedures, and the exchange of accurate and timely information relevant to epidemics.

The plans include a communications strategy that addresses the consequences of SARS on business and tourist travel.

The meeting, co-chaired by Mr. Tej Bunnag, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Pakdee Pothisiri, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public of Health of Thailand, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Tej said it was agreed that all APEC member economies should cooperate more closely on prevention and treatment of SARS and other potential emerging diseases.

"Since the ASEAN-China leaders' meeting on SARS in Bangkok in April this year, SARS was also discussed at both the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in May.

"Discussion of SARS at high levels indicates a strong determination to take all necessary action, individually, collectively and in cooperation with relevant international organizations to minimise the social and economic impact of SARS.

"APEC has actively responded to the SARS epidemic by establishing an APEC Secretariat webpage on SARS. This contains economies' information and links to member economies? focal points on SARS.

"ASEAN has also been proactive in sharing SARS information through the establishment of the ASEAN SARS Containment Information Network which complements the APEC SARS webpage."

The APEC Action Plan on SARS lays out necessary short-term measures to confront the spread of the epidemic:

The long-term measures will focus on studying the effects of SARS on tourism, transportation and trade. Strategic plans to restore public and business confidence have also been proposed.

The meeting was attended by representatives of APEC economies, the World Health Organization and the APEC Business Advisory Council.