Cui Li, a vice-minister with China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, met with Martin van Rijn, the Netherlands’ vice-minister of health, welfare and sport, in Beijing, on Oct 26, to discuss the proper use of antibiotics and cooperation in the medical and health sector.

Cui reminded the gathering that China and the Netherlands have been cooperating in the health sector since they signed an agreement in 2005 and pointed to the visit by the Netherlands’ king in October and how it opens a new chapter in bilateral relations and cooperation.

Cui then added that China is making every effort to standardize the use of antibiotics and that its consumption of antibiotics has been decreasing in recent years and that the Netherlands has a lot of experience in this area and in healthcare informatization so China hope they can cooperation more in healthcare.

Martin Van Rijn responded by saying that they are willing to cooperate with China in standardizing the use of antibiotics and in exchanging ideas about aging and health promotion.

Taking part in the meeting were officials from the Commission’s healthcare reform dept, medical administration, and international cooperation dept.