ALMA-ATA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- A regional conference on bird flu on Tuesday called on Central Asia and its neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation in the fight against the infectious disease. 

    The two-day meeting, which ended here on Tuesday, drew representatives from five central Asian countries, namely, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as well as their neighboring countries such as China, Russia, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. 

    China suggests countries should boost cooperation in exchange of information on epidemic situation, sample analysis, vaccine promotion and use, said a Chinese delegate. 

    The whole region should establish joint reserves for bird flu vaccine to face up possible pandemic of the disease and thus effectively control its spreading in large scope, he said. 

    From 2003 to 2005, bird flu spread to 45 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, causing huge social and economic losses, said an official from the Central Asian Disease Control and Prevention.