国内英语新闻:President Hu convenes top-level meeting on possible H1N1 influenza epidemic

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday morning presided over a top-level meeting discussing how to deal with any possible H1N1 influenza epidemic, Health Minister Chen Zhu said at a news briefing.

    Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called together other members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau to discuss the specific issue, which was triggered by the spread of a new strain of H1N1 virus in North America and other regions.

    Hu and other top leaders heard briefings of the country's prevention and preparation for possible epidemic in China, Chen said, adding that the top meeting delayed the scheduled press conference to the afternoon.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu attends a press conference held by the State Council Information Office of China in Beijing on April 30, 2009. Chen said on April 30 that the country is "confident" and "capable" of preventing and containing the H1N1 influenza epidemic, which is believed to have claimed 160 lives globally.