Health is essential for promoting human development, the foundation of economic and social development, and an important indicator of national prosperity and strength. In the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized "Placing the safeguarding of people's health in a strategic position of prioritized development." In response to Xi's proposal of building a global health community, and to implement the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Supporting Fujian to Explore New Paths for Integrated Development Across the Taiwan Straits and to Construct a Demonstration Zone for Integrated Development Across the Taiwan Straits," the first "Global Health Development Strait Forum" was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province, from January 22nd to 23rd. The forum was supported by the Xiamen Municipal Government, organized by Peking University's Institute for Global Health and Development, in collaboration with the China Internet News Center as a partner, co-sponsored by the China Medical Equipment Association, and co-organized by the Management Committee of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone Xiamen Area and Xiamen University School of Medicine. It was undertaken by Beijing Time China Technologies Co., Ltd.
The following individuals, along with nearly a hundred experts, representatives from enterprises, and professionals from the medical and health sectors in mainland China and Taiwan, participated in the forum’s opening ceremony.
· Zhang Zongyi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Xiamen University
· Liao Huasheng, Deputy Mayor of Xiamen Municipal People's Government
· Liu Qian, Convenor of the Biotechnology and Health Care Industry Cooperation Promotion Group of the Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit and President of the Chinese Hospital Association
· He Dongning, Secretary and Director of the Management Committee of the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone
· Hou Yan, Chairman of the China Medical Equipment Association
· Xu Xianchun, a renowned Chinese statistician and member of the Technical Advisory Group of the International Comparison Program (ICP)
· Liu Guoen, Dean of the Institute for Global Health and Development at Peking University, Distinguished Professor of the Chang Jiang Scholars Program, and Member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
· Xie Jinming, General Manager of Beijing Time China Network at the China Internet News Center
· Lee Tzu-te, Chairman of Taipei Medical University in Taiwa
· Liu Tingfang, Founding Director of the Department of Hospital Management at Peking Union Medical College, and a Lifetime Fellow of the International Academy for Quality and Safety in Health Care (IAQS)
The theme of the forum was "Integrated Development for Shared Health." Attendees discussed topics such as "Macroeconomics and Human Health," "Cross-Strait Integration and Global Health," and "Digital Technology and Smart Health." The following experts delivered keynote speeches on the aforementioned central issues.
· Bi Jingquan, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Deputy Director of the Economic Committee, and Executive Vice Chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges
· Liu Qian, President of the Chinese Hospital Association
· Dong Jiahong, Academic of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of Chang Gung Hospital at Tsinghua University, and Director of the Institute of Smart Healthcare
· Liu Rong, Director of the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army
The following chaired three roundtable discussions:
· Qin Xuezhen, Associate Dean of the Institute for Global Health and Development and Deputy Dean of the School of Economics at Peking University
· Zhang Haibin, Associate Dean of the Institute for Global Health and Development, Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations, and Member of the Fourth National Climate Change Expert Committee at Peking University
· Xu Ming, Associate Dean of the Institute for Global Health and Development and Director of the Department of Global Health at the School of Public Health
Experts, scholars, and business representatives from mainland China and Taiwan explored domestic and international cooperation to promote global health and innovative development across the Taiwan Strait.
During the opening ceremony, Tian Youzhong, a researcher at Peking University's Institute for Global Health and Development, read a message from Han Qide, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Honorary Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, for the first Global Health Strait Forum. Wang Chen, President of Peking Union Medical College, Academic of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Foreign Member of the National Academy of Medicine of the United States, and Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech via video.
Speeches were also given by:
· Liao Huasheng, Deputy Mayor of Xiamen Municipal People's Government
· Zhang Zongyi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Xiamen University
· Hou Yan, Chairman of the China Medical Equipment Association
· Xie Jinming, General Manager of Beijing Time China Network at the China Internet News Center
· Liu Guoen, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development at Peking University, Distinguished Professor of the Chang Jiang Scholars Program, and Member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
During the opening ceremony, the China Internet News Center and Peking University's Institute for Global Health and Development signed a "Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Promoting Integrated Health Development across the Taiwan Strait." In the future, the two parties will collaborate on various major health projects such as the "Global Health Strait Research Institute," "Cross-Strait Integration Demonstration Area for Global Health," "Cross-Strait Global Health Humanities Dialogue Mechanism and Forum Summit," "Strait Medical Tourism Pioneer Zone," "Strait Integrated Health Development Industrial Park," "Strait Global Health Communication Center," and "Global Health Education Cultivation."
The COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years has highlighted the importance of global health and global health practices. The international community has responded rapidly, strengthening global cooperation, including vaccine development, medical assistance, and information sharing. Providing emergency medical assistance and humanitarian aid through cooperation in various natural disasters, conflicts, and health crises has also become a consensus among the international community.
The importance of global health on the international stage is increasing. Global health now plays a crucial role in summit meetings of international forums. This year marks an important milestone in the implementation of the "Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030)." In recent years, Xiamen City, the host city, has comprehensively implemented the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, covering Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on Taiwan, the central government's deployment on Taiwan, and requirements of provincial and municipal committees. Xiamen City has achieved significant results in promoting cross-strait integration and development and has played a pivotal role in promoting national reunification.
Xiamen City has been actively building multi-sectoral, multi-channel, and multi-level platforms for cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. The hosting of this forum in Xiamen is also aimed at providing a platform for deepening exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development of the health industry across the Taiwan Strait.
(Interpreted by Waverly Shi)
