The parallel session of 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion themed "Innovation and science: Science for healthier cities" prompted the discussion on the role that technology and innovation can play in promoting health in urban environments.

The participants that Chinese and foreign officials and experts reached that technologic innovation is a great tool to lead the construction of healthy cities.

"Scientific technology development is a major impetus in promoting health in urban environments," said Cao Xuetao, president and professor from Academy of Medical Sciences, Academy of Engineering in China.

The X-ray in 1895, the electrocardiograph in 1903, the hip replacement in 1938 and other innovative technology changed the healthy status of every individual, so did the disinfection technology, immune technology and modern medicine technology.

The life quality of urban residents and the development of healthy cities are all derived from scientific and technological innovation, Cao said.

At present, Chinese society in the period of transformation faces plenty of challenges in health field: outbreak of infectious diseases; major chronic disease blowout; one person dies of cardiovascular disease every 10 seconds; and the aging society.

It is expected by Cao that by the year of 2030, 16 percent of Chinese population will be older than 65, with a total number of 200 million.

To solve the problems, Cao believes that the world medical science innovation is the key, for it can provide directions and power to the solution.

Now medical science has been developing in a personalized, accurate, minimally invasive, remote communication and integrated way, along with prevention and control techniques of minimally invasive treatment, artificial organs and other newly emerging technology.

Meanwhile, wearable devices, medical 3D printing and other technologies also allows the integration of medical and IT, mobile Internet, big date, which mirrors the inevitable trend that innovative technology and healthcare overlap to a large extent.

Zhao Houlin, secretary general of International Telecommunication Union, said they have together engaged with some countries to develop national eHealth strategies have collaboratively with countries initiated several mobile health initiatives to use mobile for the prevention and control of diabetes, cervical cancer, cardiovascular diseases and supported programs for tobacco cessation among others.

HaeSik Lee, mayor of Gangdong-gu Seoul from Republic of Korea, Liu Qingsheng, member of the Standing Committee of Shenzhen Government and other guests also presented the session.