Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), met with Max Baucus, American Ambassador to China, in Beijing on December 20.

Li said that the Sino-US relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties in the world. Both countries have long history in health cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have deepened cooperation in health staff exchanges, the pharmaceutical industry, and medical technology as well as jointly fought against Ebola in West Africa. Health cooperation has become an important part of the two countries' strategic, economic, and cultural dialogues. She praised Baucus's contribution to push forward the two countries’ cooperation and promote the development of a bilateral relationship. She said she hopes that China and U.S. could learn from each other and further deepen bilateral cooperation in the health sector.

Baucus praised China's achievements in the medical and health care sector, and he hoped to further push forward cooperation between Sino-US health institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.

Li and Baucus also exchanged ideas on health care reform, contagious and chronic diseases prevention and control, environmental health, and population policy.