Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), participates in a videoconference on health collaboration with the UK on Dec 8. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The fifth China-UK health dialogue was held by China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care on Dec 8 via video link. NHC Minister Ma Xiaowei and UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock attended and addressed the meeting.

Ma briefed the attendees on China's latest COVID-19 prevention and control measures and its bilateral cooperation with the UK in the virus fight, and said that China is willing to enhance all-round health collaboration with the UK in various areas.

He also noted China's willingness to support the leading role of the World Health Organization (WHO), safeguard global health security in solidarity and jointly build a global health community for all.

Hancock hailed China-UK health collaboration and said that the UK is willing to further cooperation with China in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and to take it as an opportunity to deepen bilateral and global health cooperation.

At the meeting, representatives from both sides shared information on COVID-19 prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment, and global health cooperation.

In particular, in-depth exchanges and discussions were made on COVID-19 precaution and containment, pandemic trend forecasting, the WHO’s reform and support for developing countries as they fight the virus.

The two sides reiterated their willingness to strengthen experience sharing and technological cooperation to jointly protect the health of the people of both countries and the world.

Around 40 participants, including health and diplomatic officials and experts of the two countries, joined the meeting.