I. OPENING CEREMONY
Speech at the Opening Ceremony by Professor Zhang Wenkang Minister of Health, P.R. China
Dear Mr. President, Ladies, Gentlemen and Friends,
The XVth International Leprosy Congress begins today in Beijing. Entrusted by Vice Premier Li Lanqing of the State Council and on behalf of the government of the People's Republic of China, I would like to express the sincere congratulations to the grand opening of the Congress and the warm welcome to the friends all over the world.
In recent years, WHO, ILA ILEP and other non-governmental organizations have successfully carried out the movement of making leprosy no longer a public health problem", which played an active role in the protection of human health and promotion of economic development. This congress will surely push the effort forward. I wish every success of the congress.
China is a developing country with vast territories and huge population. Leprosy has a long history in China and used to be a serious infectious disease. After the establishment of new China, the Chinese government has paid great attention to anti-1eprosy works, set up practical control tactics according to real situation of our country, and adopted active measurements. Through long-term arduous effort of the numerous health workers, leprosy has been effectively controlled. During the last decades, our government has formulated and promulgated related laws and regulations in addition to extensive health education at the same time, strengthened scientific research and international academic exchange, and achieved great success.
Our country will further strengthen the anti-leprosy work in the future, carry the work a continued stable and coordinated development, make contribution to the global anti-leprosy cause.
"Working toward a World Without Leprosy" is the common wish of humankind and also the main goal of the global anti-leprosy work. China will continuously work together with other countries over the world to do our best in the fight against leprosy, for the improvement of health level and progress of human civilization.
