The 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao was held on Jan 15 in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Lei Haichao, minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), attended and addressed the event.

He said that the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs have engaged in fruitful cooperation in such areas as integrating services, talent exchanges and sci-tech innovation.

He noted that the NHC would further implement the requirements of the central government by strengthening communication with Hong Kong and Macao and enhancing support for the two regions in policy deployment, talent development and innovative initiatives. He also expressed hope that Hong Kong and Macao would gain a deeper understanding of national development strategies, leverage their special advantages and contribute to the development of the Healthy China initiative.

The meeting focused on in-depth discussions on topics such as the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent in medical treatment, disease prevention and management, advancing health initiatives at the community level and the application of smart healthcare services.

Attendees included Hong Kong’s Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, Macao's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U, as well as officials of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR.

During his stay in Macao, Lei met with Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Sam Hou Fai. Both sides spoke highly of the achievements in health cooperation between the mainland and Macao.

They exchanged far-ranging views on optimizing the healthcare service system, developing the health industry and playing a leading role in global health governance.

Lei and his delegation also visited the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital at the Islands Healthcare Complex and held a symposium with medical, pharmaceutical, nursing and technical professionals.