4. In recent years the economies of the Asia-Pacific region have faced a succession of health threats. In 2003, we were very concerned at the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) across the region, and took measures to exchange information and research and to initiate collective action to diminish the threat to our peoples. We are confident that these measures contributed to reducing the impact of SARS.

We discussed important priority areas for future work in the APEC Health Working Group, including multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination particularly with the agriculture sector, enhanced information sharing and risk communication, further work on business continuity and essential services, and continued collaboration with multilateral organisations and donors.

Exercises and scenario planning such as those previously undertaken by APEC provide important opportunities for economies to share information and develop their capacity for collaboration and cooperation. Ministers called for further programs of such exercises.

5. The APEC region continues to confront the emergence of the virulent H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza (AI). The possibility of a pandemic arising from avian influenza presents a significant threat to human health security. APEC Health Ministers recognise that through concerted efforts as an international community we can help to minimise this threat. We recalled our discussions on these issues at our meeting in Da Nang, Viet Nam in 2006 and noted the progress of economies in implementing the APEC Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Avian and Influenza Pandemics. We committed to further work to implement this plan.

6. We also committed to collaborate, as appropriate, with the World Health Organization (WHO) on measures to improve global pandemic influenza preparedness. We agreed to continue to support the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network through the timely sharing of influenza virus specimens, as a foundation of public health, and looked forward to the review of the terms of reference and to the establishment of oversight mechanisms for this Network. We aim to ensure and promote the transparent, fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the generation of information, diagnostics, medicines, vaccines and other technologies associated with the sharing of virus samples.

7. We support, as appropriate, the WHO process of fully implementing the International Health Regulations (2005), to enter into force on 15 June 2007, to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. We understand that this is a critical part of the global response to reduce the impact of health threats on economic growth and social functioning.

8. There are many threats to health security. They can arise from multiple sources, not only from emerging diseases but also from humanitarian emergencies and bioterrorism. We also recognised that it would be dangerous to assume that because there is no current global pandemic outbreak the job is done. We have re-committed to increasing our joint efforts and to building on our current infrastructure to address all events that could potentially threaten our collective health security.

9. As Health Ministers of the APEC region, we recognise that our endeavours need to complement and support global and regional structures already in place. We recognise that responses to health threats should be structured and undertaken in a manner commensurate with the threat so as to ensure a minimal impact on international travel and trade, while engaging all sectors of the economy in preventing future outbreaks.

10. Our experience has demonstrated the importance of leadership and common direction in responding to the existing threat posed by diseases such as avian influenza. We must rise to the challenge of moving on from immediate emergency management toward maintaining systems and strategies that will sustain our level of readiness and ensure that we continue to invest and build. As new infectious disease threats can emerge from various sources with very little warning, the technical and structural response including information and communication technology that we have developed provides a framework to address future threats to our collective health security. We committed to further strengthen the applicability of this framework for other health threats.

11. We noted with concern that the rate of the spread of HIV in a number of member economies brings with it social and economic consequences as well as serious health challenges. This in turn requires a multi-sectoral approach to prevent, reduce and mitigate the health, social and economic consequences of this disease including stigma and discrimination. In line with this approach, we endorsed the Guidelines for Creating an Enabling Environment for Employers to Implement Effective Workplace Practices for People Living with HIV/AIDS. The Guidelines will be updated from time to time to take account of relevant developments.

12. As Health Ministers, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing these challenges in order to ensure the health and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific community now and into the future.