Yu Xuejun, vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), led a delegation to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from Dec 5 to 9. During the trip, he participated in related events of the annual training program on tobacco control of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Smoking Cessation and the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence, and a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

During his stay in the HKSAR, Yu met with officials of the Health Bureau, the Department of Health, and the Hospital Authority of the HKSAR government, and visited medical institutions including Pok Oi Hospital and the Kwun Tong Community Health Center to survey smoking cessation services and the training of specialist doctors in the region.

He fully acknowledged the HKSAR's achievements in tobacco control and post-graduation medical education, reviewed the history of exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the HKSAR in the above fields, and introduced the latest progress on the mainland in advancing the Healthy China Initiative.

He said he looks forward to further enhancing cooperation with the WHO and neighboring countries and regions to promote greater results in tobacco control. He also expressed the hope that professional institutions, represented by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, will continue to support the development of national medical education and integrate into the development of national health undertakings.

Yu Xuejun (center), vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), participates in an event of the 2023 training program on tobacco control of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Smoking Cessation and the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

Yu Xuejun (center), vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), attends a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]