China and nine other countries including the US co-sponsored the "100 years after the flu pandemic: prepare for the protection of everyone’s health" side event held during the World Health Assembly on May 22.

Xu Shuqiang, director of the emergency office of the National Health Commission, introduced China's experience in preventing and controlling flu.

In 1918, a flu epidemic broke out all over the world, causing about one billion people in the world to be infected and tens of millions of people to die. It was the most deadly infectious disease in human history.

"To counter the epidemic of infectious diseases requires global cooperation, the establishment of a universal health system and a global safety net. We need to maintain emergency awareness and always be prepared," said Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Xu said in his speech that the Chinese government attaches great importance to preparations for flu pandemic and has achieved early discovery, timely reports, rapid response, and active disclosure of epidemics.

In 2005, China released an emergency solution for flu epidemics which has been continuously reviewed and improved. At present, China has 408 influenza testing laboratories and 554 monitoring hospitals, forming a nationwide influenza surveillance network.

In 2009, China was the first country in the world to use the H1N1 influenza vaccine, and now has the ability to detect more than 300 pathogens within 72 hours.

Xu said that China will continue to strengthen its preparedness for influenza pandemic, and continue information and technology exchanges with the WHO and other international organizations in areas such as bird flu prevention and control.

The National Center for Influenza of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the WHO's six influenza reference and research cooperation centers worldwide, has been actively sending notifications of H5N1, H7N9 and other epidemics. Since 2013, whole-genome sequencing of 43 human avian influenza strains has been shared with the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

The participating countries introduced their experience and issues in establishing influenza epidemic surveillance, prevention and control systems, and made suggestions on strengthening global cooperation and improving emergency response capabilities.