HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Vietnam pledged here Wednesday to participate in international activities to prevent and control avian influenza (AI) and consequently eliminate the disease from the region in order to ensure a sustainable livestock production and to protect human health.

    "In order to prevent and control the disease efficiently, international cooperation should be strengthened" as AI epidemic is a threat not only to Vietnam, but also to other countries, saidVietnam's Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat at the opening session of the Second FAO/OIE Regional Meeting on Avian Influenza Control in Asia.

    The three-day meeting on Feb. 23-25 is being held in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government of Vietnam.

    It is being attended by up to 150 chief veterinary officers from the region, national expert scientists, international expertsworking in close collaboration with infected countries in the region.

    They are joined by representatives from the United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and WHO to review recommendations of the firstHPAI Emergency Regional Meeting in Bangkok and global activities of international organizations in 2004 on the prevention, control and eradication of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

    During closed-door sessions, they will exchange knowledge on AIdisease and experience in the disease prevention and control, and discuss cooperated measures with the aim of quickly controlling the disease in each country and in the region.

    Representatives from regional and international organizations and donor agencies, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Asia Development Bank (ADB), the EuropeanUnion (EU) and the World Bank will also join the discussions at the meeting.

    Donor countries, including the United States, Britain, Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand and the Netherlands also sent their representatives to the meeting. Enditem