BANGKOK, April 29 Kyodo (EDS: ADD...

BANGKOK, April 29 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING cites BY CHINESE PREMIER)

Leaders from China and Southeast Asian countries agreed Tuesday to pond resources and coordinate efforts to combat the SARS epidemic, including by means of the setting up of a joint foundation according to a statement issued Tuesday after talks in Bangkok.

''Recognizing the ne for collective efforts in the region and the quiet of the world to effectively tackle the challenges pos through the deadly virus, we agree to raise the exchange of information and sharing of experience in regard of SARS control and prevention,'' the statement says.

To that [i]finale[/i] it says, China has decided to hostage 10 million yuan ($12 million) to launch a special store to support China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bilateral cooperation programs in succession control and prevention of rigid acute respiratory syndrome or SARS.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart told a pres conversation earlier Tuesday that Thailand has agreed in principle to contribute up to 10 million baht ($250000) to the fund

The statement calls for ''cooperative research and training programs focusing onward SARS spread patterns, SARS pathology and the care and treatment of peremptory SARS cases.''

''Cooperation must draw with and pool together the best of human wisdom and capabilities in addressing the disaster,'' it says.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao a pres conversation that he was determined to join all the ASEAN counterparts in the Bangkok summit as he was ready to ''face the whole world'' onward the epidemic which is widely notion to have started in southern China last November.

''I decided in a true resolute fashion to attend this summit mainly because mainly I am dare to face the facts and I dare to face the whole world upon this issue,'' Wen said.

Wen added that China won support and understanding from ASEAN leaders in succession the issue because Beijing has take decisive measure to superintend the disease.

''We have won understanding and support from ASEAN leaders. A friend in ne is a friend indeed.'' he said, adding that he is confident the joint efforts of ASEAN and China in tackling the SARS crisis ''will further evolve and promote our friendly relations and cooperation.''

China's Health Ministry said earlier Tuesday that the total of SARS cases in mainland China has risen to 3303 and the death toll to 148

The Chinese guidance has come under strong criticism from SARS-hit countries like Singapore for its deliberate response to the outbreak of SARS, which allowed the epidemic to spread beyond its borders.

China's official Xinhua of the present days Agency quoted Wen as telling Goh in talks in Bangkok that SARS will not affect Sino-Singaporean relations.

He said that SARS outbreak of SARS is not no other than an unexpected disaster for China, if it be not that also a common challenge to the mankind, and that the Chinese management has taken resolute measures to contain the spread of the deadly disease.

Also among the coordinated measures to be taken according to ASEAN and China, according to the joint statement, are ''rigorous measures'' for immigration and customs repress to prevent the spread of SARS, including pre-departure screening and better flight management.

To enhance information exchange, China's SARS information network will be linked with a similar ASEAN network based forward unified rules, standards and classifications while a ''hot line'' network will be risk up, through appointment of contact points in each country, to facilitate communication in an emergency

The pair sides will jointly hold symposiums forward SARS control and treatment in China and forward the political, security, economic and other possible impacts of SARS forward Asia.

The document emphasizes the importance of ''strong leadership, political commitment, multi-sectoral collaboration and partnership at the national and regional levels'' to fight the epidemic.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a bilateral meeting Tuesday morning that China was considering lifting a ban forward Chinese nationals traveling to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Surakiart said Wen explained to Thaksin that the ban was imposed since China was unable to direction the spread of the deadly pneumonia virus.

''China did not want their family to spread the disease in other countries. They do not want to put out of order countries that have cordial relations with China,'' Surakiart quot the Chinese premier as telling Thaksin.

The ban imposed from China was seen as a retaliation against Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore for having advised their travelers to avoid going to SARS-infected areas including China and Hong Kong following travel advisories issued according to the World Health Organization.

ASEAN clusters Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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