The APEC high-level meeting on health and economy was held in Beijing on August 15. Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Li said that with Asia-Pacific economic growth and increased demands in health services, it is important to promote the health sector through coordinated development with the economy and expand regional cooperation in the health sector. In recent years, APEC members have made great efforts in coping with health issues, which may threaten economy, trade and safety. They also cooperated in medical fields such as infectious diseases, chronic diseases, maternal and children health, health system improvement, population aging and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The proposal of “Healthy Asia-Pacific in 2020” aims at strengthening the coordination between APEC members and promoting regional cooperation in health policy, medical industry and trade.

To further strengthen Asia-Pacific regional cooperation in the health sector, Li Bin put forward three suggestions:

First, APEC members should further strengthen cooperation, learn from each other and promote development mutually to build a healthy Asia-Pacific region.

Second, APEC members should deepen cooperation and development in the health sector. The Asia-Pacific economies should implement policies good for health industry development to upgrade the health conditions in the region.

Third, APEC members should renovate to push forward the development of the health industry. The health industry can not only fuel economic growth but also improve people’s livelihood. To develop the health industry, biotechnology and life science innovation should become a pilot, as well as the promotion of the growth of health services covering healthcare, nutrition and physical training.

Ma Xiaowei, vice-minister of the NHFPC, hosted the opening ceremony. Officials from Indonesia, Malaysia and other member economics delivered speeches at the ceremony.

Senior health officials, heads of international organizations, and non-government organizations and experts attended the meeting.

Li met with these officials and both sides exchanged ideas about healthcare quality, hospital management and protection against the Ebola virus.