(BEIJING, November 27) -- Thirteen International Organizations, including WHO and FAO, and delegates from more than forty countries discussed and passed the Beijing Food Safety Declaration on November 27, 2007 at the High-level International Food Safety l Forum held in Beijing.

The declaration is the international community's agreement to adopt concrete measures to jointly address food safety issues.

This conference made us come to agree that food safety is a global problem. It doesn't just exist in developing countries but also in developed countries. The frequency of food safety accidents in different countries is not the key problem. The key is to jointly find a way out. And the Beijing Declaration pointed such a way, said the director of the WHO food safety department, Dr Jorgen Schlundt.

The declaration pointed out that food safety surveillance is an important public health function. Food source problems could become a major cause for disease, premature death, loss of labor, and heavy economic burden.

However, different countries hold different opinions and attitudes towards this problem, and trade disputes and barriers aggravate the difference.

The Chinese government has been calling for the international community to jointly solve the problem through consultation. Finally the appeal will be answered. China staged the high-level International Food Safety Forum for the first time.

"Strengthening communication and cooperation, Ensure food safety" is the theme of the forum.