On November 14, Cui Li, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), met with Alberto J. Blanco Silva, Cuban ambassador to China. Both sides exchanged opinions on strengthening cooperation in the health sector and jointly fighting Ebola.

Cui Li spoke highly of improvements in Sino-Cuban cooperation in the health sector. She said that this July, President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cuba witnessed the signing of the Sino-Cuban memorandum of understanding on health cooperation, which symbolizes a new stage in the two countries’ cooperation. The NHFPC is willing to further cooperate with Cuba in the health sector based on the Sino-Cuban memorandum of understanding on health cooperation.

Cui also introduced China’s fight against Ebola. She praised Cuba’s spirit of internationalism in sending medical staff to the Ebola-affected areas. China is willing to cooperate with Cuba to fight Ebola.

Alberto agreed with Cui’s assessment of cooperation, and he advised that the two sides should formulate an executive plan and detail the measures. He also praised China’s contribution to West African countries in fighting against Ebola, and hoped to further cooperate with China in fighting Ebola.

People in charge of the Health Emergency Response Office and the Department of International Cooperation also attended the meeting.