US to help China improve food and drugs exports safety

The United States will help China improve the safety of its food and drug exports, the US health chief said in a statement released here Friday after a string of health scandals surrounding Chinese-made goods.

US health officials in Beijing this week offered China's quality inspectors technical assistance to address food and drugs safety problems, Secretary of Health Mike Leavitt said in the statement.

They also offered to work with Chinese officials on a given firm under a US import alert to show local authorities how to help exporters take necessary steps to meet US requirements and safety standards, he said.

"If successful, this approach could be a model for other firms affected by an import alert," Leavitt said.

During the five-day visit that ends Saturday, the delegation also reached initial agreement with Chinese authorities for two deals on food and drug safety, which are expected to be finalised by the end of this year.

Leavitt said the next series of bilateral meetings would take place later this month.

"I am optimistic about our initial progress with our Chinese colleagues and I am hopeful the next series of bilateral meetings later this month, in Beijing, will keep us moving forward," he said.