BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhuanet) -- China has made progress in reducing infant mortality and under-five mortality, an assessment issued by the United Nations Country Team in China said here Thursday.

    The assessment, "Millennium Development Goals: China's Progress", said during the 1990s, reported infant mortality dropped from five percent to three percent, while under-five mortality dropped from 6.1 percent in 1991 to 3.6 percent in 2001.

    To meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2015 China needs to lower the under-five rate to 2 percent, the assessment said.

    In September 2000 at the United Nations, the 149 world's leaders from 189 member countries reached a historical agreement on the Millennium Declaration. The goal for China is to reduce theunder-five mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.

    According to the assessment, improving children's health and reducing childhood mortality represents a top priority for the Chinese government, in order for China to realize its millennium goals.

    Disease control programs targeting children, such as those to improve immunization coverage, nutrition, obstetrical services and neonatal care receive strong government support and should help lower childhood mortality, the assessment said.

    Nevertheless, the assessment noted, progress in China has been uneven, with wide disparities in childhood mortality rates. Developed coastal areas have rates approaching those of industrialized countries, while rates in most western provinces and autonomous regions are three to five times higher.

    The assessment indicated that in well-developed areas with low mortality rates, other child health problems such as accidents, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes are becoming serious issues. While in poor rural areas, major causes of childhood deaths are asphyxiation and infection associated with poor obstetrical and neonatal care. Neonatal tetanus, pneumonia and diarrhea constitute particularly serious threats.

    The assessment listed inadequate health funding in poor areas, migrant children and unplanned pregnancies as problems China needs to address to reach the millennium goals. Enditem