On December 8, the National Health Commission of China (NHCC) and UK Department of Health and Social Care held the Fifth China-UK Health Dialogue online. NHCC Minister Ma Xiaowei and UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock delivered opening speeches. Around 40 participants attended the on-line meeting, including Minister Chen Wen of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson CMG, and officials and experts from health and diplomatic sectors from both sides.

Minister Ma briefed the participants on China’s progress in preventing and controlling the pandemic, and its bilateral collaboration with the UK on containing the virus. He expressed China’s readiness to work with the UK to enhance all-round and multi-field health cooperation, support the World Health Organization in playing a key leadership role, safeguard global health security and build a community of health for all.

Secretary Hancock spoke highly of China-UK cooperation on public health, saying that the UK is willing to continue enhancing cooperation with China in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and will take the dialogue as an opportunity to deepen bilateral and global health cooperation.

At the meeting, representatives from both sides shared information on COVID-19 prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment, and global cooperation. In particular, they had in-depth exchanges and discussions on specific prevention and control measures, forecast, WHO reform and support for developing countries. Both sides reiterated their willingness to step up experience sharing and technological cooperation, so as to join hands to safeguard the health of the peoples of both countries and beyond.