Group photo of guests at the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum

The third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum was held in Fangchenggang, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from Nov 25 to 27, 2023.

Cui Li, vice-president of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission (GNFCC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Cui Li, vice-president of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Cui said that public health has always been an important area for pragmatic cooperation among the SCO countries. In June 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the 19th SCO Summit, vowing to support the initiative to set up an International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone in Fangchenggang to further promote medical innovation and cooperation within the SCO. It clearly defined the function and position of the pilot zone in the development of the medical and health sectors within the SCO, and also extended invitations to all other SCO countries to participate in the construction of the pilot zone. Over the past four years, with the steady advancement of the zone, the International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum has evolved into a vital platform for China to carry out medical and cultural exchanges and innovative cooperation with other SCO countries and ASEAN countries, making positive contributions to improving the health and well-being of people in these countries.

Cui stated that, as a specialized agency engaged in people-to-people diplomacy under the SCO framework, the GNFCC has always been leveraging its advantages in people-to-people diplomacy to build a bridge for pragmatic cooperation in medicine and health. The GNFCC is willing to continue promoting medical and health cooperation among SCO countries, and build the international medical opening-up pilot zone based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits so as to support the high-quality development of global health. It is also ready to advance cooperation, information sharing, and joint research in the pharmaceutical industry, and initiate international medical and health professional training. These efforts are intended to make greater contributions to consolidating people-to-people connections, the co-construction of the Health Silk Road, and the building of a health community among the SCO countries.

Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), delivers a video speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the SCO, lauded the construction of the International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone, stating that medical and health cooperation within the SCO framework is expanding, encompassing medical tourism, drug production and regulation, efficient diagnosis and treatment, therapeutic drug research and development, military medicine, traditional and comprehensive medicine, and the establishment of the SCO Medical Association, as well as safety of drinking water.

He said that cooperation and innovation is an important path to medical development and progress and safeguards the health of mankind. The SCO is willing to promote the "Shanghai Spirit" and to jointly build a global community of health for all in an open and cooperative manner.

Liao Pinhu, vice-governor of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, delivers a welcome speech at the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Liao Pinhu, vice-governor of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, said that with the strong support of 15 reform and innovation policies and measures issued by relevant national ministries and commissions, the pilot zone's carrying capacity had been significantly increased, with the national-level platform layout implemented. The preliminary outline of leading industries is taking shape, and the zone’s role as an international cooperation window is increasingly prominent as experts and talents continue to gather. The zone is progressing towards more open, inclusive, universally beneficial, and balanced, and win-win cooperation. The pilot zone is willing to establish a sustained dialogue mechanism on public health policies for the SCO and ASEAN countries, build a platform for medical and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepen international public health cooperation, and optimize resource utilization in such fields as international health personnel training, advanced medical technology sharing, and global health and medical standards improvement, aiming to facilitate new cooperation consensus and project implementation.

Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, minister of health of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, minister of health of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, said that China and Laos have similar geographical and natural environments, abundant medicinal biological resources and common medical culture. The two countries have huge potential for cooperation in traditional medicine research and food and drug safety as their medicinal resources and consumer markets can complement each other. Cooperation between ASEAN and China in the health sector is of great significance, and Laos is willing to work together to jointly build a global community of health for all.

Sha Zukang, former undersecretary-general of the United Nations and honorary president of the China-Asia Economic Development Association, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Sha Zukang, former undersecretary-general of the United Nations and honorary president of the China-Asia Economic Development Association, said that Guangxi and Fangchenggang city are building the International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone with an international perspective and a focus on the surrounding areas. He added that the outlook is promising for the mission of medical innovation and cooperation they are undertaking. China, upholding the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, has made outstanding contributions to the global fight against the pandemic. Practice has proven that only through joint consultation and construction can human health be guaranteed. He expressed the hope that all parties would work together to explore the future of medical cooperation, share the achievements of medical development, and jointly contribute to the future of human health.

Anvar Davletov, deputy governor of the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum. 

Anvar Davletov, deputy governor of the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan, said that China's manufacturing, communications, maritime routes, agriculture, and pharmaceutical sectors are well developed and its tourism development potential is huge, which provides vast opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and China. Uzbekistan supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and carry out comprehensive and extensive cooperation with China, particularly in deepening mutually beneficial partnerships in the fields of pharmaceuticals and education.

Si Bunna, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, attends the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum and delivers a speech. 

Si Bunna, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, said that the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone is committed to building an international cooperation platform for cutting-edge medical innovation and advancing the transformation of medical scientific and technological achievements. It provides an excellent platform for various countries in the development of medical science. He said Cambodia would take the forum as an opportunity to continuously strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as medical innovation, public health and food safety. Adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, his country will share market opportunities brought about by the development of the two countries, promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the manufacturing industry, scientific research, trade, and talent cultivation in the medical field, and elevate Cambodia-China friendly cooperation to new heights.

Pham Vu Hoang, director of the Population Department of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum .

Pham Vu Hoang, director of the Population Department of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, thanked the forum for providing a valuable opportunity to bring together the SCO and ASEAN countries. He said that Vietnam and China, in line with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, had jointly organized cross-border medical emergency rescue drills, deepening cooperation in the field of health and wellbeing. Vietnam is willing to actively participate in the work of the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone and make practical contributions to safeguarding the health of the people.

Tan Pichuang, secretary of Fangchenggang municipal party committee, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Tan Pichuang, secretary of Fangchenggang municipal party committee, noted that President Xi announced eight major steps to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind at this year’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Fangchenggang will further deepen medical and health exchanges and cooperation with the SCO and the ASEAN countries, establish a regular forum mechanism, and strengthen medical research partnerships. The city will also create an international base for medical and health personnel education and training, facilitate more open channels for international medical exchanges, and establish closer cooperation in international public health rescue. These efforts aim to foster a cross-border pharmaceutical industry chain and supply chain that is mutually-beneficial.

Huang Jiang, mayor of Fangchenggang, presides over the opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum.

Themed on "Strengthening Medical Opening-up and Cooperation, Building a Future of Health for Mankind," this forum was hosted by the government of Guangxi, both online and on-site.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Huang Jiang, mayor of Fangchenggang, with the presence of officials from national ministries and commissions, Guangxi and Fangchenggang, academicians in the field of medicine from various countries, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization China Representative Office, the SCO Secretariat and the ASEAN Secretariat, and diplomatic envoys of SCO and ASEAN countries in China. Also in attendance were experts and scholars, and representatives from industry associations, medical schools, research institutions, medical institutions, and enterprises from various countries.

The opening ceremony of the third International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum is held in Fangchenggang, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.