The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan, to exchange views on the prevention and control of infectious diseases and co-operation on Chinese traditional medicine projects.

The meeting took place at the official venue to receive VIPs, Santa Sancha, where Mr Chui thanked Dr Chan on behalf of the Macao Government for the WHO concern and long-term support on building of health and medical services, and in the prevention of communicable diseases.

He said Macao and WHO have a close relationship, which was again highlighted in the recent H7N9 case when the Government, working in close contact with the WHO, quickly provided timely and comprehensive information and launched preventive plans which helped put the minds of residents at ease.

Mr Chui said that the Macao Government would spare no efforts to safeguard the people’s health by strictly following the guidance provided by WHO in dealing with public health issues.

Dr Chan advised that it was necessary to closely monitor the changes of H7N9 virus in the winter, and that the WHO would keep in close contact with the Macao Government on this.

She also expressed interests in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park, and the co-operation project of traditional medicine between the Macao Government and the WHO, adding that WHO would soon announce its 10-year development plan for traditional medicine.

On behalf of the Macao SAR Government and WHO, they had signed a co-operation agreement on Chinese traditional medicine on 28 July 2011. The terms of the agreement, which commenced from 2 September 2011 and ending on 31 December 2015, include holding training courses in Macao.