On April 24, Lei Haichao, minister of the National Health Commission, met in Beijing with Saia Ma'u Piukala, World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for the Western Pacific, and they had in-depth discussions on bilateral cooperation.

Lei spoke positively of China's collaboration with the WHO, noting that the Chinese government attaches great importance to public health. He said that during this year's national two sessions — the annual plenary sessions of the country's top legislative and political advisory bodies — building a "Healthy China" by 2035 was highlighted as a strategic decision. It was also made clear at the sessions that efforts should be made to secure decisive progress in advancing the initiative during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Lei added. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development explicitly states that China will continue to implement a health-first development strategy over the next five years, aiming to raise average life expectancy to 80 years and to enhance both the quantity and capacity of medical personnel.

China stands ready to further strengthen its cooperation with the WHO and its Western Pacific Regional Office to advance the building of a global community of health for all, he said.

Piukala highly commended China's achievements in the health sector and spoke positively of the cooperation between China and the WHO. He expressed gratitude for China's firm support for multilateralism and the WHO's coordinating role in global health governance, as well as for China's assistance to countries in the Western Pacific region. He reaffirmed the commitment to deepening collaboration with China to contribute to the realization of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Officials from relevant departments of the National Health Commission, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration attended the meeting.