Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) met with WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on August 17 to exchange ideas on further health cooperation.

Li congratulated Tedros on his successful election as WHO Director-general and welcomed his first visit to China after the election.

Li noted that the Chinese government has been paying great attention to cooperation with WHO. China will actively support the work of the Director-general to improve WHO's leadership in global health.

She said she expects that both sides will implement the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the health sector of the Belt and Road Initiative signed in January and jointly push ahead WHO's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for improving global health.

Li also expressed her appreciation for WHO’s consistent adherence to the one-China policy.

"China is an important partner of the WHO, which has made great contribution to the development of the global health industry," said Tedros, adding that WHO will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy and actively support China to deepen healthcare reform, promoting the implementation of universal health coverage.

Tedros is willing to publicize China's experience in developing the health sector and in providing high-quality inexpensive pharmaceutical products to other developing countries. WHO will further health cooperation with China under the frame of the Belt and Road Initiative to improve the health of the people living along its route.

Cui Li, vice-minister of the NHFPC, also attended the meeting.