China renewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on disease surveillance with Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam on May 18, expecting further cooperation in the Mekong Basin.

The MOU focuses on diseases such as AIDS, pestilence, tuberculosis, severe diarrhea (including cholera), lupomania, preventable infectious diseases and new emerging diseases. The cooperation involves improving laboratory capacity and networking, developing information technology and jointly coping with outbreaks.

According to the MOU, member countries should strengthen supervision, risk assessment and emergency responses.