"An exciting milestone" for the global campaign against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is how a US embassy official described the World Health Organization's (WHO) lifting of the travel advisory on Beijing.

Hoping the situation would continue to improve, he said the Chinese government's SARS prevention and control measures were quite good: "The process began during China's cooperation with the international community and implementation of control measures."

He said the performance of the Chinese government was excellent with a good use of media and a large number of public organizations.

Hospital-based transmissions during the SARS period were relatively low, the US embassy official said, adding that proper measures had been explained and publicized well by the government.

"Panic among the public was resolved quite thoroughly," he said.

"China is capable of running a world-class emergency management system in the future."

Jean-Raphael Peytregnet, press counselor of the French Embassy to China, said he was "happy to learn the long-expected good news". The WHO decision meant the concerted efforts of the Chinese people had been recognized by the world.

China's remarkable public organization left Peytregnet deeply impressed: "It was amazingly effective that no one could even enter a tiny village after the prevention measures were announced.

"Controling SARS in such a short time is marvelous," he said.

Peytregnet said the Chinese government had assigned special working groups to clean up and disinfect his residence everyday, and inform him of the latest news and prevention measures. This diplomat who had visited China some 20 years ago found the working style of the Chinese government had become more efficient.

Franz Jessen, deputy head of the delegation of the European Commission to China under the European Union, said the Chinese government had taken the SARS issue very seriously, and followed the suggestions by the WHO.

"The battle against SARS has been fought with energy and determination," he said. "I, just as other people living in China, hope that the battle is coming to an end, with a victory on our side."

Dr. Gary Dirks, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, said, "Much of the impact is proving to be temporary. Some businesses, especially travel and entertainment were hit hard, but even here recovery has started."

He also believed there would be positive benefits to establishing an information-based public health system.

The diplomats interviewed never thought of leaving China during the SARS period. Jessen said,"I myself never felt at risk."

They were all happy to see that life in Beijing was returning to normal, as "there are not so many masks, and people seem to be more relaxed," Peytregnet said.

Optimistic, pragmatic, ready to meet new challenges is how Dirks described the character of the Chinese people.

Visiting foreign officials also spoke highly of the Chinese government's performance. When meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi on Jun. 18, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said Thailand welcomed China's rapid economic progress, and always believed the Chinese government and the Chinese people were fully capable of defeating SARS.

Thailand thought highly of China's success in controlling SARS in such a short period, and admired the Chinese people's spirit of holding together to combat the disease, he added.