PRAGUE, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic does not support Taiwan in its bid for membership of the World Health Organization (WHO), Czech's deputy Health Minister Michael Vit said in an interview before the 60th World Health Assembly, which is slated to open next Monday.

    Vit said that the WHO is a specialized organization under the United Nations, of which only sovereign states can be members.

    "As a part of China, Taiwan is not eligible to join the WHO as a member." he added.

    The 60th World Health Assembly will run from May 14 to 23 in Geneva, Switzerland. Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian sent a letter to WHO Director General Margaret Chan requesting WHO membership for Taiwan in April.

    During the interview with Xinhua, Vit stressed that the Czech government always sticks to the one-China policy, and will not back the attempt of Taiwan authorities to seek membership of the WHO.

    WHO spokesman Iain Simpson also reiterated on Friday that the WHO is a specialized organization within the United Nations, and the organization will stick to the one-China policy on the issue of Taiwan in accordance with the WHO's resolutions.

    Taiwan has sought observer status in the WHO over the past 10 years, but has never succeeded in gaining it.

    Vit appreciated China's effort to push forward cross-strait health and medical exchanges and cooperation.

    In 2005, the Chinese Health Ministry and the WHO Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the participation of Taiwan health and medical experts in WHO's technical activities.

    Under the MOU, the WHO can invite health experts from Taiwan to participate in its technical activities, and send staff and experts to Taiwan to investigate health issues and provide technical health assistance.

    Since the MOU was signed, 12 groups of experts from Taiwan have participated in WHO's health activities.

    "We agree with the idea that Taiwan communicates and cooperates with the World Health Organization on a technical level." Vit said.