Increased collaboration

Kikule urged greater collaboration between the regulatory agencies and governments to ensure drug safety and combat counterfeiting.

Meanwhile, Chinese producers have begun to form partnerships with African pharmaceutical authorities and distributors to facilitate the tracking of their medicines. Anti-counterfeit labels have now been added to drug packaging, making illegal production even more difficult, according to Yu.

The Chinese authorities attach great importance to drug safety, and the regulations concerning exported drugs are in line with international practice, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, who refuted the foreign media reports.

Moreover, no efforts have been spared in cracking down on fake drugs.

In June, the authorities in China and the United States launched a joint campaign to close 18 Chinese-language websites selling counterfeit drugs in the US.

Christopher Hickey, director of the US Food and Drug Administration's China office, said the administration hopes for continued collaboration with China in the global fight against counterfeit drugs.

However, investigators were unable to establish where the counterfeits were produced, said Hickey.

In 2007, Chinese police uncovered a massive counterfeit-drug syndicate based in south China, which sold fake anti-malaria drugs in Southeast Asia.

During the probe, conducted jointly with Interpol and the WHO, 24,000 packs of counterfeit Artesunate were seized, according to Chinese media reports.

The drugs were sold mainly in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, according to a suspect arrested during the operation. Malaria remains an endemic problem in those countries.

Ultimately though, concerted multinational action is required to ensure that counterfeit medicines, whatever their origin, are eradicated.

"China is a very important manufacturer of quality anti-malarial medicines and can play a substantial role to help secure safe and quality drug provision in Africa by closely cooperating with global stakeholders," said O'Leary.

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