On February 29, 2008, Central Coordination Committee meeting of China-Canada Animal Health Extension Service Project (LHESP) was held in Beijing. Members of CCC committee including CIDA, MOFCOM, MOA and representatives from executing agencies in China (FECC) and Canada (Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.) attended the meeting. Other participants in the meeting were from Veterinary Bureau, MOA, Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Animal Epidemic Prevention and Control center, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and key managers/representatives from the seven project provinces.

The CCC Meeting approved and gave full recognition to the project annual report from January 1, 2007 to March 2008 to agencies and managers in charge of the project operation last year. The meeting focused on discussions of project annual work plans the April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

The 2008/9 annual work plan was formulated based on collaborative efforts with strong support from China¡¯s national administrative agency and provincial veterinary managements. The newly approved annual work plan will further support capacity building of National Animal Health policy-making, OIE standard compliance, improving ability on Disease Free Zones (DFZ) regionalization, veterinary epidemiological research and risk assessment methods. Laboratory bio-safety management, master Training of Trainers (MTOT), training of grass-roots level veterinary staff, food safety and environment protection was also addressed in the plan.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of project implementation, consensus was reached to pursue the project in a friendly and cooperative environment promoting strong communication between the partners.