China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Li, ex-WHO leader attribute healthy advances to reforms
China will continue its Healthy China efforts and further enhance cooperation with the United Nation’s World Health Organization, Premier Li Keqiang said in a meeting in Beijing on Thursday with Margaret Chan, former director-general of the WHO.
Li said China has devoted enormous time and effort to implementing medical reforms, aiming to provide basic medical and health services to the general public.
He said the country has managed to establish a medical system covering 98 percent of the population and benefiting more than 1.3 billion people.
China can enhance communication with the WHO and other global partners, Li said, and share its experiences in medical reforms to better implement the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Li spoke highly of Chan’s efforts to promote global health and medical development and deal with important public health incidents, such as the outbreak of the Ebola virus and hemorrhagic fever when she was the agency’s director-general. He said Chan has worked positively in promoting the public health systems in WHO member countries, especially in developing countries, and has provided consultancy and support to China’s medical reform.
Chan expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its longtime support of the WHO.
She said China has made outstanding achievements in medical reform, providing successful experience for other countries. She said she is ready to contribute her expertise to China’s deepening medical reform and international cooperation.