The 63th Session of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Governing Council was held between May 17 and 18. Representatives from China's National Health Commission, Permanent Mission in Geneva and National Cancer Center participated.

The IARC Governing Council unanimously approved China's application to join the IARC. The chairperson of the IARC and representatives of relevant countries delivered a warm welcome to China's accession. 

The Chinese delegation to the IARC stated that China attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in cancer prevention and control. China's membership of the IARC will further promote bilateral collaboration and propel practical exchanges and cooperation between Chinese experts and professional technical institutions and international colleagues, which will surely benefit global cancer prevention and control and scientific research collaboration.

He Jie, an academician and director of China’s National Cancer Center, was elected a member of the Scientific Council of the IARC.

The IARC was established in 1965 in accordance with the resolution of the World Health Assembly. It is a specialized organization for cancer research of the World Health Organization and is headquartered in Lyon, France. Its member states include the United States, Russia, France, India and Iran. China is the 27th member state of the IARC.