China will take strict measures to ensure the safety of the government officials and reporters attending the anti-SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) symposium which is to be held from June 3 to 4 in Beijing.

Speaking at a press conference Friday, Gao Qiang, executive vice-minister of health, said the health of the participants is the first to consider in choosing examination measures, adding it is not easy to decide appropriate measures, for people may feel unsafe if measures are too lax, but inconvenient if the measures are too strict.

The anti-SARS symposium is jointly held by China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2003)