On April 21, 2003, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met
with Eleih-Elle Etian, head of the foreign diplomatic
mission and Cameroon Ambassador to China, and other foreign
diplomats, briefing them on the latest situation of severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China and on the
preventive measures adopted by the
government.
Li said President Hu Jintao,
Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders went to the front lines
in person for several times, directing the preventive job of
SARS. They have always given top priority to the health and
safety of foreigners working, living and traveling in China,
same as to the Chinese people.
Li said in line
with the instructions of the Chinese government and leaders,
the Foreign Ministry had adopted a series of measures to
protect foreigners in China from SARS. These measures
included delivering brochures about SARS to foreign
agencies, briefing them on SARS situation and preventive
measures, and asking relevant departments to designate
hospitals for foreigners and set up hotlines, including one
specially for all foreign diplomats in Beijing. The ministry
also required all local foreign affairs offices to cooperate
with the relevant departments and well prepare for SARS
prevention work among foreigners. In Beijing, the Service
Bureau for Foreign Diplomats had undertaken the task to
completely sterilize the embassy areas and the Diaoyutai
State Guesthouse has also strengthened the sanitation and
sterilization work in the residences of foreign
guests.
On behalf of all foreign diplomats in
China, Etian expressed his appreciation for Li's briefing on
the latest SARS situation and spoke highly of the preventive
measures adopted by the Chinese government. He said all
countries were willing to join with China to combat SARS.