Hosted by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the third round of Sino-German government negotiations was held in Berlin on October 10. Lin Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Li Bin briefly introduced the situation of China and Germany’s cooperation in the health sector. She said that both countries are facing some challenges in the health sector, such as an aging population, the change of the disease spectrum and emerging global infectious diseases. Both sides will set up a dialogue mechanism at the minister level, strengthening innovations in health policy, hospital management and medical technology to solve problems in healthcare reform. The two countries will carry out the common view of their leaders and further develop overall strategic partnership in order to make new contributions to people’s health and the development of society and economy.

Li Bin signed the Sino-German Health Cooperation Plan with German Health Minister Hermann Grohe. Both sides will make efforts in the prevention of chronic disease, medical service quality control, public health, disaster medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and the social capital-invested health industry.

A short time before, the first Sino-German health dialogue themed around healthcare reform and hospital management was held in Berlin. Li Bin negotiated with Grohe in regards to the Sino-German health dialogue mechanism, healthcare reform, traditional Chinese medicine and health informatics construction. They also discussed cooperation in helping West Africa fight Ebola.

Relevant people from the NHFPC’s General Office, the Department of Healthcare Reform, the Department of International Cooperation, the Bureau of Medical Administration and the National Health Development Research Center participated in relevant activities. They visited the German Health Ministry and shared opinions in health policy and hospital management with experts from the Federal Joint Committee, Doctors’ Association, health insurance agencies and medical institutions.