ASEAN plus 3 agree to promote cooperation on health emergencies.

YANGON, June 22 Kyodo

Health ministers from ASEAN and its three dialogue partners -- China, Japan and South Korea -- agreed Thursday to promote cooperation in combating the threat of infectious diseases.

A joint statement issued after their second one-day meeting in Yangon said the ministers endorsed the implementation of the ASEAN plus Three Emerging Infectious Diseases program's Phase Two.

It would provide greater opportunities to share and exchange information, experience and expertise in combating threats to the health and security of the people among member countries.

''The EID program Phase Two activities would bring the ASEAN plus three countries even closer in preparing for future threats of disease outbreaks, including those related to natural disasters, bio-terrorism, and pandemic influenza,'' the statement said.

Phase One of the EID program, implemented between August 2004 and October 2005, laid firm foundations in the ASEAN plus three countries for effective regional surveillance capacities and early warning and rapid response mechanisms, the statement said.

The first ASEAN plus Three Health Ministers meeting was held in 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with priority on joint activates on health promotion, capacity building for health professionals, HIV-AIDS, and traditional and alternative medicine.

In the Yangon conference, the ministers agreed to hold the next meeting in the Philippines in 2008, the joint statement said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, comprises Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.