Forum looks at life after SARS
( 2003-07-17 09:37) (China Daily)
The swift response of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in
fighting against SARS and their success in curbing the spread of the disease
helped rebuild confidence, mitigate the undesirable social impact of the
outbreak and stimulate economic growth in the region, according to an
international forum.
Yesterday, participants at the China-ASEAN Symposium on the Economic and
Social Impact of SARS held in-depth discussions about the effect of the
potentially fatal disease on economies and societies.
They shared experiences and lessons learned in addressing the SARS outbreak
and in implementing countermeasures to revive social and economic activities.
The participants included senior economic, social and health officials and
experts from ASEAN member countries, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat,
senior officials and experts from China's central government and local
governments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong and Macao
special administrative regions.
The symposium was held in Beijing over the past two days under the joint
sponsorship of the Chinese State Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of
Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The participants agreed that the leadership of the Chinese Government helped
China, in a short period of time, contain the virus. This achievement not only
helped China alleviate the impact of SARS on its economy and society, but also
significantly contributed to the quick economic recovery of other countries,
particularly ASEAN countries.
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