The opening ceremony of the 2023 "Health Aging Economics" summer camp jointly organized by the Peking University Institute for Global Health Development and the Yale University Social and Policy Research Center was held in Xichang, Liangshan, Sichuan on June 25, 2023. With the theme of "Health Aging Economics," the teaching team consisted of professors from Peking University, Fudan University, Sichuan University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of International Business and Economics, Jinan University, Yale University, University of Oxford, King's College London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the Institute of Science and Technology of the National Health Commission. Camp participants comprised of a group of outstanding students selected globally.

The summer camp began with a relaxed and enjoyable welcome dinner. After the teachers and students introduced themselves, Director Liu Guoen delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD). Director Liu welcomed and thanked the teachers and students from various domestic and international universities. He emphasized that the academic theme of this summer camp, "Health Aging Economics," is not only a pressing area for research in China but also an important issue that requires in-depth exploration by countries worldwide. He mentioned that this summer camp, hosted by IGHD, is the first to be jointly organized with international universities, the first to be held in a Chinese ethnic minority area, and the first to combine summer camp with field investigations on health and poverty alleviation.

Professor Chen Xi, representing the Yale University Social and Policy Research Center, welcomed the convening of the camp. Professor Chen expressed that in the current global trend of accelerated aging, researching issues related to healthy aging has become increasingly important. Global cooperation on human health issues is also becoming increasingly crucial. The summer camp serves as an important platform for enhancing the research capabilities and promoting cooperation among young scholars. He hoped that the participants would collectively focus on global major issues and contribute to the development of all humanity.

As the head of the co-organizing institution for the summer camp, Deputy Director Guo Jierti expressed that this summer camp is an important platform for academic exchange and also a significant initiative to promote the development of healthy aging. Deputy Director Guo introduced the current research status of the Scientific Research Institute of the National Health Commission, emphasized the factors restricting the development of the health industry and the approaches to addressing them. He looked forward to deeper cooperation and exchange in data sharing, scientific research, and other fields with IGHD and the teachers and students. He hoped that the participants could engage in critical thinking and communication during the summer camp and contribute their knowledge and skills to advancing the development of healthy aging.

One of the organizers of this summer camp, Professor Pan Yuhang from IGHD, introduced the schedule of the summer camp, which includes academic lectures, field work, group discussions, and other activities. He provided detailed information about the content and purpose of the summer camp to the participants and encouraged them to actively participate.

(Interpreted by Waverly Shi)