The 16th Asia International Stamp Exhibition, to be held in Mianyang City of Sichuan Province, southwest China, has been postponed until November 20-24 due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, organizers announced Sunday.

The exhibition was originally scheduled for September 20-24, and 28 countries and regions have signed up for the event.

The All-China Philatelic Federation and the Mianyang city government requested the postponement of the exhibition due to the fact that SARS cases are still being reported in China and some other parts of Asia.

The request has been approved by the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry and the State Postal Bureau and affirmed by the Inter-Asia Philatelic Federation.