Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) visited the Chinese medical team in Malta on Jan 19 and gave New Year's greetings to medical staff on behalf of China's top health authorities.

Li said that 2016 was a creative year for China's overseas medical aid. In the past year, the NHFPC carried out overseas medical aid through supporting counterpart hospitals, implementing maternal and child health demonstration projects, and providing free cataract surgeries. 

The Chinese medical teams in foreign countries overcame difficulties in work and daily life to save numerous patients' lives, which gained the respect and praise from people in recipient countries.

The Chinese medical team in Malta introduced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to European nations and set up the first TCM clinic. 

Li vowed that the top health authorities will strengthen support to overseas medical teams and she hoped Chinese medical teams can make new contributions to overseas medical aid and spread TCM to more foreign countries.

Jiang Jiang, Chinese Ambassador to Malta, and relevant officials from the NHFPC accompanied Li on the visit.