China, US agree to revive health cooperation after years-long chill

After first US visit in 7 years, Chinese health authorities will coordinate on cancer prevention and treatment, disease management, ageing and medical research

Reading Time:2 minutes

Cao Xuetao, deputy head of China’s National Health Commission, took part in the first ministerial-level visit to the US by Chinese health authorities since 2017. Photo: Sohu

Published: 7:00am, 2 Oct 2024

China and the United States have agreed to improve coordination and cooperation on global health affairs between their technical agencies, state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.

Following talks in Washington, Cao Xuetao, the deputy head of China’s National Health Commission, said China was willing to better communicate policies with the US and work together on areas such as cancer prevention and treatment, chronic disease management, ageing and medical research.

Andrea Palm, deputy secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, said she was looking forward to cooperation in health-related fields, which also include climate change-related health issues, nutrition and antimicrobial resistance.

Both officials agreed that health cooperation between Beijing and Washington was beneficial to “global well-being” and health security, Xinhua reported.

During the first ministerial-level visit to the US by Chinese health authorities since 2017, Cao, an immunologist, met directors of several centres at the US National Institutes of Health, as well as the president of the National Academy of Medicine, Victor Dzau.

The officials said they recognised the value of medical exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and were willing to hold more exchanges, Xinhua reported.

However, the report did not mention sensitive issues, such as research on the origin of Covid-19 or cooperation in monitoring emerging infectious diseases.