Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, met Jeremy Hunt, a British health official, in Beijing on April 22. They had an exchange of views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in health.

Li spoke highly of the health cooperation between China and Britain and briefly introduced the development and reform of China’s medicine and health industry, as well as the challenges and key points along the way. She said that both sides have carried out practical cooperation in health policy, global hygiene, aging population, dementia and antibiotic tolerance.

“China faces huge challenges from the aging population, urbanization and changing spectrum of disease, and is looking forward to more communication and cooperation with the British in medical quality and hospital performance evaluations,” she said.

Hunt affirmed the positive results of the bilateral health cooperation, and expressed hope to join hands with China to deal with antibiotic tolerance and dementia. He agreed to carrying out in-depth bilateral cooperation in hospital management and medical quality evaluation.

The two also exchanged views on traditional medicine and basic drugs, and jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for an Oxford leadership and public policy training project between NHFPC’s international department and the British Embassy in China.

Officials from NHFPC’s international department, medical policy and management bureau were also at the meeting.