China and the Czech Republic have taken the lead among Central and Eastern European countries in health cooperation. The two countries are seeking more cooperative projects in health. Ma Xiaowei, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) met with Czechic vice health minister Lenka Teska Arnoštová in Beijing on October 12. Both sides exchanged ideas on medicine and healthcare cooperation.

Ma said that health cooperation is a prominent part in both countries’ cooperation. China and Czech Republic have organized two sessions of the China-Czech Health Forum since 2013, and the first Health Ministers' Meeting between China and the CEEC was held in Prague this June. The two countries worked together in clinical medicine, contagious disease prevention and control, traditional medicine, personnel training and children’s health.

Ma hoped China and the Czech Republic can work together in health and carry out more cooperative projects.

Arnoštová praised China’s efforts in pushing health cooperation and expected further partnerships.

Both sides exchanged ideas in the establishment of the Sino-Czech Traditional Chinese Medicine center, pediatric exchange and public hospital cooperation.

Also taking part were officials from NHFPC’s Department of International Cooperation, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chinese Hospital Association.