Chinese and British scientists will expand cooperation in research on emerging infectious diseases, such as AIDS, SARS and bird flu, this year.

Jin Dapeng, director of Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, said the research would concentrate on immune protection; improving and developing methods of clinical diagnosis or experimental procedures for new infectious diseases; development of medicines; and training of research personnel and medical workers.

More than 60 scientists from Britain and China would participate in the programs, Jin told a seminar on emerging infectious diseases in Beijing.

Professor Andrew McMichael, chair of the Infections and Immunity Board of the U.K. Medical Research Council (MRC), said 40 new infectious diseases had been discovered and recognized since the 1980s.

Chinese and British scientists have carried out preliminary cooperation in research on SARS and AIDS, ranging from development of reagents for diagnosis, vaccines and medicines.

Yang Weiguang, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said Beijing had started a joint research mechanism with participation of Chinese scientists and researchers from a dozen medical research organizations in Britain.

British and Chinese scientists have jointly launched 22 major scientific research programs, covering AIDS, bird flu, SARS, and other topics.

Yang said he hoped foreign specialists help complete an AIDS control network that integrates scientific research, diagnosis and treatment, and prevention by launching a research program entitled "AIDS prevention, control measures and comprehensive treatment research".

Medical research organizations in China and Britain have signed a MOU on cooperative research on emerging infectious diseases.

The two-day seminar, which will close later Tuesday, was also attended by specialists from the United States, France and other nations.

Source: Xinhua