Ma Xiaowei, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) visited Latvia and Lithuania from July 23 to 30 at the invitation of the health ministries of both countries.

Aiming at pushing forward cooperation in community-level healthcare and maternal and child health, Ma visited Kārlis Ketners, Latvian Secretary of State for Health, and attended a Sino-Latvian health policy roundtable.

Ma Xiaowei (left), vice-minister of the NHFPC, meets with Kārlis Ketners, Latvian Secretary of State for Health.

Ma said that China would be willing to further cooperate with Latvia in staff training and scientific research in accordance with a Sino-Latvian memorandum of understanding on health cooperation and a collaborative action plan. Ma and the delegation visited a Latvian children’s hospital and community healthcare center to gain insight into Latvia’s community healthcare and its levels of maternal and child health.

Ma Xiaowei, vice-minister of the NHFPC, meets with Aurelijus Veryga, Lithuanian health minister.

During his stay in Lithuania, Ma met with Aurelijus Veryga, Lithuanian health minister and Gintare Sakalyte, vice minister of health, and attended a Sino-Lithuanian health policy dialogue. Ma noted that China and Lithuania have cooperated in healthcare reform, community-level healthcare, maternal and child health and hospital management since the two countries signed a related memorandum of understanding in 2015.

Ma said he hopes that the two sides can further cooperate to make new breakthroughs in the health sector. Aurelijus Veryga said Lithuania is willing to cooperate with China for further gains in this area. Ma and the delegation also visited Lithuania’s Vilnius University and the Vilnius community healthcare center.