China and the United States deepened bilateral cooperation in the public health sector during the 6th U.S.-China Health Summit, held in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, on Sept 2.

Themed "Health for All through Innovation", the three-day meeting was co-sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, School of Public Policy & Management of Tsinghua University, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Ma Xiaowei, vice minister of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), addressed the opening ceremony.

Ma Xiaowei, vice minister of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, addressed the opening ceremony of the 6th U.S.-China Health Summit in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Sept 2.

Ma said that China's achievements in health reform are remarkable and public health conditions are improving.

The Healthy China strategy initiated by China's top leadership is the blueprint for the next 15 years in China's public health development, according to Ma.

"We should protect people's health in an all-dimensional and all-time manner," Ma said. "People's health conditions should be improved enormously, and the health equality should be highly advanced."

China will enhance cooperation with the US in the public health sector, and the two sides should better share experiences in managing innovation, medicine, and health care services, said Ma.

Both sides should keep on supporting the leadership of the WHO and other international organizations, and make bigger contributions to the health and well-being of the public, noted Ma.

Jimmy Kolker, assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the US Department of Health and Human Services, addressed the ceremony through a live video, saying that China and the US boast a strong foundation for public health cooperation, and their cooperative fields should continue to expand.

The summit, first held at Harvard University in 2011, has been held alternately in China and the US every year.

Previous summits have covered a wide range of themes, including health-care reforms in China and the US, government regulation, market competition and professionalism, preventive medicine and public health, and cutting-edge medical technology.

In previous years, policymakers, experts and business leaders in the US, China, and all other individuals who share a keen interest in the rapidly transforming global health sector, have all benefited tremendously from these direct dialogues and discussions, said the summit website.