WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus concluded a 2-day official visit to the People’s Republic of China paving the way for stronger and more strategic WHO-China collaboration. Outcomes of Dr Tedros’ meetings with high-level leadership in the Government of China included a formal agreement to cooperate on elimination of malaria and schistosomiasis, support health emergency prevention and response in Africa, and filling the workforce gap in health. WHO and China reaffirmed their commitment to improve the health of billions of people represented in the more than 60 countries engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative.
“China’s own health reforms, which have expanded health insurance to more than 95% of its immense population, serve as a model for universal health coverage, a bulwark against health emergencies, and a reminder that transformations can be far-reaching.,” said Dr Tedros.
While in Beijing Dr Tedros met with Vice President Wang Qishan for a high-level discussion on the strategic partnership between WHO and China, and explored how China can expand its international health security cooperation in Belt and Road countries. Dr Tedros also met with the newly-appointed head of the State International Development Cooperation Agency Wang Xiaotao and Minister Wang Yi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Tedros met with Party Secretary of the State Administration for Market Regulation, Bi Jingquan, to discuss China’s increased participation in expanding global access to affordable quality medicines.
During his meeting with Minister Ma Xiaowei of the National Health Commission, China signed a Letter of Intent with WHO for expanded global collaboration in malaria and schistosomiasis, as well as an agreement to further expand the number of Chinese health professionals seconded to WHO.
Together with officials from the National Health Commission, Dr Tedros met members of a medical team who have supported China’s overseas public health efforts. China’s medical teams have been supporting African countries for decades and have become a flagship of China’s contribution to global health. He also visited Desheng Community Health Centre in Beijing, seeing first-hand China’s efforts to increase accessibility to people-centred, affordable, and quality health services.
Dr Tedros also joined a number of China’s leading corporations to launch a new workplace health and tobacco control initiative called “My Right Your Responsibility.” At the pledge event held Monday evening in Beijing, more than 60 companies representing four countries in the region committed to provide their nearly half a million employees with 100% smoke-free workplaces.
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WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.