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SARS Strikes China's Economy and Threatens the World
(Clearwisdom.net) The Voice of American reporter Yang Ming reported on April 23, 2003 -- SARS Strike's China's
Economy and Threatens the World. Along with the spread of SARS everywhere in China, some large-scale business activities had to be
terminated half done. At the same time, people in impoverished areas that lack medicine lose their
heads even more. This has lead to serious concerns in the international community. The analysts
pointed out that once SARS had inflicted heavy losses on China's economy; the negative impact would
also affect the whole Asian region even the globe. The Automobile Expo in Shanghai Concluded Ahead of Schedule Observers pointed out that despite the spread of SARS, Shanghai, which had claimed the discovery
of SARS vaccine a while ago, insisted on staging the 10th Shanghai International
Automobile Expo on April 21 on time. However, the expo, which was originally scheduled till April
27, had to be concluded within two days after the opening. It was reported that at least one Chinese reporter who covered the Expo had been diagnosed with
SARS. However, Shanghai authorities denied the report and said that the conclusion of the automobile
expo ahead of schedule was to protect the expo personnel and patrons' safety. Domino Effect - Economic Slowdown in China Affects the World According to Chinese official reports, until April 23, 2003, there were at least 2,305 cases and
106 deaths related to SARS in China. SARS is the acronym for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,
which has been called "Atypical Pneumonia" in China all the time. On April 23, China's
State Department established the SARS Prevention and Treatment Headquarters and set up 200 billion
Yuan funding for SARS treatment. Dr. Henk Bekedam, a WHO representative in China, pointed out that
the Chinese government should give more funding and send more medical staff to impoverished areas to
help people there with SARS. Some analysts pointed out that since the Domino Effect in the economic field caused by the
cancellation of tours, the economy increasing-rate in China would decrease by half percent this
year. What is more severe is that the decreasing of economy and consumer in China will have more
related impact on the Asian economy which have been in trouble due to the economy slowing down in
United States and SARS. Michael Finger, an economist for the Development and Economic Research Department of WTO, pointed
out that after the severe impact on the tourism, restaurant, retail, entertainment and airline
industries during the initial stages of SARS outbreak, the following and an even more severe impact
would appear in business and investment confidence. Finger also pointed out that the impact on the
economic growth in China would cumber trading, which is one of the driving forces of economic
development, thus affecting the economy in other areas worldwide. Hong Kong - Another Severe Disaster Area In Hong Kong, another severe disaster area of SARS, the number of cases has climbed to 1,458 with
105 deaths. The fear of SARS has struck Hong Kong's economy heavily. Tourism, the restaurant, retail
and entertainment industries face the possibility of being totally ruined. According to the newest report from the WHO, the number SARS patients globally has increased to
about 4,300 people and caused 251 deaths. The city of Beijing and Shangxi Province in China and the
city of Toronto in Canada have been listed as severe disaster areas. The WHO warned people that
unless it was absolutely necessary, do not travel to these areas. April 24, 2003
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