Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), met with his counterparts from Morocco, Somalia, Libya and Yemen at a China-Arab States Health Cooperation Forum on Aug 16 and exchanged views with them on bilateral health cooperation and communication.

In a meeting with Moroccan Health Minister Anass Doukkali, Ma said health cooperation between the two countries has been on the rise, and Moroccan delegates’ visit to China this time will lay a solid foundation for even deeper bilateral cooperation. The two sides reached consensus on future collaboration in telemedicine and traditional medicine research.   

In talks with Fawziya Abikar Nur, minister of health and social services of Somalia, Ma spoke highly of the long-standing health cooperation between the two countries. He said that China is willing to work with Somalia in various fields including women and children’s health and personnel training under the China-Africa cooperation framework. Fawziya appreciated China’s long-standing support.

In exchanges with Ehmid Ben Omar, Libyan health minister, Ma said China and Libya have maintained a long-held friendship. China attaches great importance to health collaboration with Libya and hopes to propel the work in personnel training and traditional medicine research. Ehmid agreed with that suggestion and expressed a desire for deeper cooperation.

Ma noted the significance of collaboration with Yemen in his meeting with Nasser Mohsen Baoom, minister of public health and population of Yemen and said China hopes to enhance cooperation in medical services and personnel training. The two sides also reviewed the history and development of China-Yemen cooperation in the health sector.