Cross-Strait co-operate in battling H7N9

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland has provided 21 reports updating Taiwan on H7N9 bird flu as of Monday, according to a spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Such information is provided under a cross-Strait agreement of cooperation in medical and health sectors, Fan Liqing said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

Samples of the human H7N9 avian influenza strain that the mainland has provided Taiwan for joint research efforts arrived on the island on April 20, and the mainland has arranged for experts from the island to visit Beijing for better understanding of the disease, Fan said.

In reply to a question about cross-Strait judicial collaboration, Fan said the mainland has repatriated and transferred more than 280 fugitives and criminal suspects to Taiwan since the two sides signed a cross-Strait agreement on judical assistance and joint efforts in fighting crime in 2009.

The spokeswoman also said an advanced professional maritime salvage ship from the mainland will visit Taiwan for exchange activities later this month, and the mainland is willing to deepen cross-Strait cooperations with Taiwan in maritime search and rescue.