China has conducted extensive technical cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) since the two parties signed their first memorandum of understanding in the field of technical cooperation 40 years ago.

"China has made full use of the advantages of the WHO and carried out comprehensive cooperation with it," said Liu Peilong, a professor of the School of Public Health, Peking University.

The cooperation, on China's part, includes introducing advanced international technologies, getting the latest scientific information, fostering medical professionals, and improving health management, among other matters, added Liu, a former assistant director-general of the WHO.

"Over the past forty years, China has developed its own theories in building up a health system and promoting public health," Liu said.

Through the cooperation with the WHO, according to Liu, China has brought all its theories, knowledge and experience to the world stage.

China's experience in promoting rural health, including the "barefoot doctor" method, encouraged the WHO to promote the primary health care campaign.

In the late 1950s, some people, usually farmers who received minimal basic medical and paramedical training, were employed to work at local rural communes. As they wore no shoes most of the time, they became known as "barefoot doctors", a title that was made official in 1968.

The discovery of artemisinin, a breakthrough that won pharmaceutical chemist Tu Youyou China's first Nobel Prize in medicine in 2015, gave the WHO an effective weapon in the fight against malaria all over the world.

In 2016, an international emergency medical team from Shanghai East Hospital was verified by the WHO and became the first such team in China to join the international medical rescue network.

In January 2017, cooperation between China and the WHO reached a new high as both sides signed a further memorandum of understanding in the health sector concerning the Belt and Road Initiative.

The cooperation now covers countries involved in the initiative, and has been extended to regional and global levels, said Liu.