Nearly 700 delegates representing over 100 countries and 20 international organizations gathered in Beijing Tuesday in a bid to pool financial resources to curb the spread of avian influenza.

"The recognition that there are significant resource gaps within countries - and within the main technical agencies that support national efforts - prompted the Government of China to offer to host an International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza," United Nations System Influenza Coordinator David Nabarro said at the meeting. Both the European Commission and the World Bank agreed to co-sponsor the event.

The on-going conference urges all the delegates to draw their money and establish a corresponding mechanism for the proper use of financial resources.

Nabarro said, "The transfer of resources, and managed technical support, are expected to enable a broad range of countries -- including low income countries - to respond to the threats posed by avian influenza, prevent the emergence of influenza pandemics and deal effectively with pandemic conditions as they develop."

A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1), currently found in Asia and parts of Europe, is causing severe social-economic problems. It poses an immediate and potentially severe threat to animal and human health. So far over 140 people were reported being infected by the virus, of which 80 were dead.

The World Bank announced earlier that the total fund for a global fight against bird flu is estimated to range between 1.2 to 1.4 billion U.S. dollars.

The bank said most of the fund is likely to be put into the densely-populated east Asia and the Pacific region, the remainder will mostly go to Europe, Central Asia and Africa.

China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Qiao Zonghuai stressed at the meeting the needs for the world community to conduct "comprehensive, intensive and sustained" cooperation in preventing and combating avian flu, saying that the disease is a challenge faced by all and it's in common interest to build such cooperation.

"China is to be a donor in the multi-financing program", said an official with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The European Commission and European Union member states will jointly contribute 250 million U.S. dollars", said an EC official. Both officials declined to be named.

The conference encouraged the relevant organizations and countries as well as the civil societies and private sectors to play their due role since the former have obvious technical and financial strengths and the latter are flexible in reaching out to the general public.

Grouped and plenary sessions will be held to discuss the possible framework on dealing with the donations, specifying the sources of capital, the principles and procedures concerning the management and use of the capital. A special trust fund will be created to meet the short and long-term needs in fighting the disease collectively.

The organizers confirmed an endorsement of a declaration by the end of the conference, saying it will highlight a plan to build long-term strategic partnership between related international agencies and the bird flu affected countries and increase transparency and efficiency on information sharing, vaccine and drug research.

As one of the earliest countries that have reported bird flu cases, China attaches importance to the control and prevention of the disease, Qiao Zonghuai said.

China is ready to coordinate and cooperate with the international community with uttermost political commitment on stopping the disease from further spreading, said Qiao.

China has reported 32 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in animals from January to December 2005 in the country, leaving a total of 154,600 birds dead and 22,571,200 culled.

Source: Xinhua