Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), participates in the resumed session of the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) via video link on Nov 9. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The resumed session of the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) was held via video link on Nov 9. Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), led a delegation to the session.

At the session, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered a video speech, in which he expounded on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, the progress the WHO has made in implementing the 13th General Programme of Work and in pushing forward various undertakings of the WHO.

Tedros appealed to WHO member states and international organizations to increase health input and fight the pandemic with solidarity and cooperation.

The 73rd WHA was held in May this year via video link. Ma led a delegation to the assembly and spoke at the general debate of the WHO. He introduced China's experience in combating the virus, called for solidarity of all the parties, supporting for the WHO's leading role and helping countries with vulnerable health systems fight against the pandemic.

The resumed session will listen to the reports of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) and the review committee of International Health Regulations, and discuss important issues including epidemic response assessment, public health emergency response, universal health coverage, primary health care, and neglected tropical diseases as well as maternal and child health.

As the top decision-making body of the WHO, the WHA will review the work report of the WHO director-general and the WHO budget report. The resumed session will close on Nov 14.