A survey indicated that 93.1 percent of the public believed that the government was in a position to control and appropriately deal with the H7N9 bird flu. On September 25, the NHFPC conducted the “National Health Emergency Rehearsal,” in which the health emergency response teams showcased their superb professional skills and excellent mental outlook. After the Lushan earthquake, the NHFPC dispatched seven national health emergency response teams, which headed for the earthquake-stricken area two hours after the earthquake where they provided medical rescue, sanitary and epidemic prevention, and psychological assistance. On November 21, the Chinese government dispatched an emergency response team to the Philippines, where they provided medical emergency relief in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. In two weeks, they received a total of 2,144 patients and provided medical relief to 200,000 people in the disaster area, thus winning extensive praise from people in all circles both at home and abroad.

5. China expanded cooperation in delivering medical aid to developing countries and observed the 50th anniversary of the first overseas medical aid mission. On August 15, 2013, the National Conference of Overseas Medical Aid & the 50th Anniversary of the First Overseas Medical Aid Mission was held in Beijing. Thirty medical teams and 59 individuals were honored at the ceremony by the NHFPC and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. On the morning of August 16, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, received representatives i who had been honored on the previous day and health ministers from Africa. On the same day, the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Cooperation was held. Liu Yandong, vice-premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered the keynote speech, in which she stressed that efforts should be earnestly made to develop mutually beneficial health cooperation between China and Africa and constantly consolidate and deepen the New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership.

In the forum, the Beijing Declaration of the Ministerial Forum of China-Africa Health Development was signed and published. The health officials decided to take a series of measures such as jointly developing human resources for health to promote the in-depth China-Africa health cooperation. The “Beijing Declaration” developed a roadmap for China and Africa to make joint efforts to solve major health problems affecting Africa by establishing a sustainable and long-term cooperation mechanism. Since 1963, 23,000 medical workers have been sent to 66 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Oceania. The medical staff have been bringing into play the spirit of the Chinese medical team of “defying hardship, making willing contributions, healing the wounded, rescuing the dying and giving boundless love,” thus playing an irreplaceable role in enhancing friendship between the Chinese people and peoples in recipient countries, promoting friendly cooperation between China and recipient countries, and building a good international environment for China’s reform and opening-up to the outside world.