Ma Xiaowei (center in the first row), head of the NHC, attended the 4th China-CEEC Health Ministers' Meeting in Bulgaria. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn] 

The 4th China and Central and Eastern European Countries  (CEEC) Health Ministers' Meeting was held in Bulgaria on Nov 6 to implement the Dubrovnik Guidelines for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

Around 130 representatives from China and CEECs attended the meeting, including senior deputies of national health administration agencies, ambassadors to Bulgaria and delegates of health specialized institutions and of international organizations and enterprises.

The meeting, under the theme "Sustainable Development of the Health Systems", was co-sponsored by China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the Bulgarian Health Ministry.

Ma Xiaowei, minister of the NHC, addressed the opening ceremony, stressing that China and CEECs have reached consensus in health cooperation and have made a series of achievements in that field.

He said China suggested that the next efforts should focus on health strategies, expand institutional collaborations and generate new driving forces in people-to-people exchanges.

Participants shared opinions on universal health coverage, public health cooperation, public health security and health innovation and cooperation. The meeting adopted a declaration.

During the meeting, Ma held talks with delegations of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, and signed bilateral agreements with them.

Exhibitions of China-CEEC health cooperation, China's health achievements and health industries were also on display.