More than 100 Chinese and American scientists convened in Beijing Thursday to discuss how to capitalize on gene therapy to upgrade infectious diseases control and prevention.

At the workshop titled The Genomics Revolution: New Tools for Combating Infectious Diseases, Shang Yong, Chinese vice minister of Science and Technology, said that the partnership between China and the United States in curbing infectious diseases will benefit the overall development of human society.

"Academic exchanges and cooperation are expected to lay a solid foundation for future research on controlling and preventing those dangerous infectious diseases such as the avian flu," Shang said.

The Chinese and American scientists exchanged views on disease surveillance and detection, pathogenesis, diagnostics, vaccine development and drug discovery.

The participants called on global collaboration in the sharing of scientific data.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2006)