Jiang Xingguang

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2017-08-1

Li Bin, minister of the National Health Commission, addresses the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road High-Level Meeting for Health Cooperation on August 18 in Beijing. [Photo by Yang Nuo/Xinhuanet]

The head of China’s health watchdog called for joint efforts in building the Health Silk Road platform at a high-level meeting held in Beijing on August 18, 2017.

Li Bin, minister of the National Health Commission (NHFPC), made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road High-Level Meeting for Health Cooperation: towards a Health Silk Road.

Liu Yandong, vice-premier of China, made a keynote speech at the ceremony reviewing the achievements made by China in health cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative over the past four years.

She said China’s efforts have greatly pushed forward global health.

China is pursuing health innovation and promoting health industries, according to Liu, adding that a great number of world-leading achievements -- including medical robots, 3D printing and wearable devices -- have been made.

In 2016, China’s total health expenditure reached nearly $ 700 billion, accounting for 6.2 percent of the GDP. A total of 7.93 billion instances of health care occurred.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS and under-secretary-general of the United Nations, also addressed the opening ceremony of the meeting.

Cui Li, vice-minister of the NHFPC, listed some the key achievements of the meeting, including the Beijing Communiqué, a comprehensive statement of agreed points.

About 300 delegates, including health ministers from Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and other countries, were in attendance.

The establishment of a “Belt and Road” public health network, a health policy research network, an alliance of sustainable health industry development and a hospital alliance were also announced.

The high-level meeting is widely supported by international organizations, NGOs and think tanks.

Source: National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China