Over 1.8 billion U.S. dollars were raised Wednesday in Beijing at the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza, ensuring an initial basis for global fight against bird flu.

The pledged donations include 121.6 million U.S. dollars from the the European Commission, 134.9 million U.S. dollars from the European Union (EU), 468 Million U.S. dollars from the Asian Development Bank, 334 million U.S. dollars from the United States and 155 million U.S. dollars from Japan.

The World Bank has estimated before the conference that the global financial needs for the prevention and control of bird flu could total 1.2 to 1.4 billion U.S. dollars.

It was the first time that the international community donated generously for the prevention and control of the avian/human flu through a multi-donor financing framework. Analysts say the event was "substantial".

Markos Kyprianou, European Union (EU) commissioner for health and consumer protection, considered the conference a success, saying donations are much higher than expected.

China announced a contribution of 10 million U.S. dollars in the event. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised the financial support will "be put in place soon".

The country also pledged to continue the provision of financial, material and technical assistance within its capacity through bilateral channels to neighboring countries and those in need for such assistance.

Money is not the end to the issues related to bird flu, said Dr Lee Jong-wook, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), at the same time admitting that it is impossible to reach the target of the war against flu pandemic without enough funding.

At present, the developing countries affected by the bird flu have weak capacity to deal with a pandemic. The medical services are relatively poor in some Southeastern Asian countries or the remote areas of China. Besides material inadequacy, they are also faced with financial shortages or lack of effective technologies.

To ensure a fair, effective and productive use of the collected funds the conference adopted a multidonor financing framework report on avian and human influenza.

The framework outlines a financing program to offer money support for identified priorities in the prevention and control of the disease.

The infected or high-risk countries, notably Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam, and Africa will be the given priority in receiving financial grants.

The Chinese government is sending a powerful message through the conference that the world urgently needs a collective commitment to share information quickly and openly and to find a way that countries or international agencies can work together effectively, said Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank.

He warned if the international community does not support these control measures now, the potential cost to the world would be much higher in the long term.

According to WHO figures, there have been 150 human cases of bird flu infection, and 80 were dead. The epidemic is now showing a tendency of spreading.

The participants agreed that avian/human pandemic poses challenges not only to public health, but also to the economic and social development of certain countries or even threatens the regional or global security and stability.

Dr. Lee said the disease is not a thrust for one or a few unfortunate countries but a global threat faced by all. No country can afford to the consequences due to inadequate preparedness.

Source: Xinhua