- Title: THAILAND: Officials from Asian cities discuss anti-H1N1 measures
- Date: 4th November 2009
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (NOVEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR VENUE OF ASIAN NETWORK OF MAJOR CITIES 21 (ANMC21) MEETING DELEGATES DISCUSSING JOINT DECLARATION TOKYO GOVERNOR SHITARO ISHIHARA WITH OTHER OFFICIALS MORE OF DELEGATES REVIEWING DECLARATION DELEGATES WALKING ON STAGE ISHIHARA ON STAGE DELEGATES SEATED DELEGATES FROM SINGAPORE AND SEOUL SIGNING DECLARATION DECLARATION BEING SIGNED BY A DELEGATE MORE OF DELEGATES SIGNING ISHIHARA SIGNING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK GOVERNOR SUKHUMBHAN BARIPATRA SAYING: "Everyone in the meeting agreed that the issue of the H1N1 influenza virus is the main problem at the moment and may put the return at risk for the second time." MEETING VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK GOVERNOR SUKHUMBHAN BARIPATRA SAYING: "All of the major cities are vulnerable to the virus, as population densities are high. So every city needs to cooperate with each other in exchanging information and experience." DELEGATES ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, SHINTARO ISHIHARA, SAYING: "It was a very productive meeting not only for Asia but for the world as representatives from Asian cities with a lot of potential gathered here. Building on our friendship in our future will help promote Asia's prosperity." MEDIA DELEGATES ON STAGE HOLDING HANDS FOR GROUP PHOTO VARIOUS DELEGATES FROM SEOUL, TOKYO AND BANGKOK HOLDING HANDS DELEGATES AT PHOTO SESSION
- Embargoed: 19th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: International Relations,Health
- Reuters ID: LVA1JXJFIJLWZHZ3Q0QARUA310M6
- Story Text: Governors and delegates of major cities in Asia met in Bangkok on Tuesday (November 3) to strengthen their cooperation in coping with the H1N1 virus.
The representatives of eight capitals -- Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul and Singapore -- signed the Bangkok Declaration under the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) at the end of a four-day meeting.
They agreed to promote tourism and to strengthen measures against infectious diseases in Asia, especially the deadly H1N1 virus.
"Everyone in the meeting agreed that the issue of the H1N1 influenza virus is the main problem at the moment and may put the region at risk for the second time," said Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhan Baripatra.
More than 440,000 people worldwide have been infected with the H1N1 virus, which has caused 5,700 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said last week.
Although the spread of the virus continued to decline in many countries in Asia, prevention measures remained high on the agenda.
"All of the major cities are vulnerable to the virus, as population densities are high. So every city needs to cooperate with each other in exchanging information and experience," Sukhumbhan said.
The representatives expressed their concern about climate change, and said they planned to make cities greener.
Japan's representative said the meeting will reinforce cooperation between Asian countries and help curb the spread of diseases.
"It was a very productive meeting not only for Asia but for the world as representatives from Asian cities with a lot of potential gathered here. Building on our friendship in our future will help promote Asia's prosperity," said Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara.
The network was set up to cope with crisis management, environmental measures and industrial development as the populations in major cities continue to grow rapidly.
The ANMC21 is an international network of Asian capitals and major cities with 11 members, including Bangkok, Delhi, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Yangon.
The next meeting will be held in Tokyo in 2010. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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