China will strengthen the prevention and cure of occupational disease to achieve economic development while protecting laborers, Chinese Vice Health Minister Chen Xiaohong said at a national conference on occupational disease prevention held Wednesday in Putian, east China's Fujian Province.

The prevention and treatment of occupational disease closely connects with people's interests, construction of a harmonious society and building of the well-off society, Chen said.

The cases of occupational benzolism in Baigou Town of North China's Hebei Province and the death of 24 people resulting from poisoning in Fujian Province has attracted the attention of the central government. Nine central government departments have combined their efforts to curb the production, usage and sale of poisoning chemicals.

Reports of occupational disease at township enterprises and self-employed businesses have gone up to 71.6 percent in 2003 from 46.2 percent in 2002.

The case of dust pulmonary tuberculosis dropped 32.2 percent from 2002 to 2003. The acute occupational disease dropped by 14.6 percent in the 2002-2003 period.

China has 16 million enterprises engaging production with harmful matters. About 200 million of rural laborers work on posts with harmful maters, which likely to lead occupational disease, Chen said.

"China is confronted with a tough situation in occupational disease prevention because the country is still in the primary stage of socialism. Therefore, we must enhance the prevention and treatment of occupational disease, Chen said.

Source: Xinhua