Geneva  - The World Health Organization (WHO)confirmed Friday that Taiwan has been invited to attend the World Health Assembly later this month in Geneva, symbolically marking a step in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation.

WHO spokesman Thomas Abrahams said the move to invite Taiwan as an observer followed a consensus reached between Taiwan and China on the assembly and attendance.

Taiwan lost its WHO seat in 1972, one year after it was expelled from the United Nations.

   Since then, China has barred Taiwan from rejoining UN-affiliated organizations, claiming Taiwan is China's breakaway province.

   Besides the WHO, Taiwan is also seeking to rejoin the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other organizations, with the main goal of rejoining the United Nations.

Abrahams noted that WHO Director General Margaret Chan welcomed the agreements between the two authorities.