Chen Xiaohong, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), met with Seth Burkley, CEO of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), on July 15.

Chen highly praised the cooperation between China and GAVI and thanked GAVI for its contribution to China’s healthcare sector. Chen said that the hepatitis B vaccine project between China and GAVI has made remarkable achievements in China, including promoting the China National Immunization Program and disease prevention and control. He hoped that China will explore new fields to cooperate with GAVI, and share the experiences and technology of the China National Immunization Program with the international community. China will make its contribution to upgrade health conditions globally. Burkley spoke highly of China’s achievements in the immunization program and vaccine supervision; he expects that Chinese vaccine companies can provide affordable products for other countries. Both sides reached an agreement in jointly pushing ahead Chinese pharmaceutical companies to apply for WHO medicine pre-certification, allowing Chinese vaccines to be used in global disease prevention and control.

Relevant people in charge of the Department of International Cooperation and Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control at the NHFPC attended the meeting.