BEIJING -- China on May 13 inaugurated a new national administration of disease prevention and control, with its five major functions including formulating policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

The establishment of the Beijing-based administration signals the expansion of the roles of disease prevention and control agencies from preventing and containing diseases to comprehensively safeguarding and promoting the health of the entire population, according to an official statement.

The administration is a vice-ministerial level agency managed by the National Health Commission, according to the statement.

It will be tasked with formulating policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases and for the public health supervision.

It will steer the development of the disease prevention and control system, the epidemic monitoring and early warning system, and the scientific research system for disease control.

It will also be responsible for the supervision and management of public health and the supervision of infectious disease prevention and control, according to the statement.