Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), attends the 13th China-Japan-South Korea health ministers' conference on Dec 11 via video link. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The 13th China-Japan-South Korea health ministers' conference was held via video link on Dec 11.

Speakers at the videoconference included Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), Japanese Health Minister Norihisa Tamura, South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo and Takeshi Kasai, the regional director for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ma reviewed the cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and put forward three initiatives on trilateral health collaboration.

He called on building a strong health system and promoting regional health development, strengthening joint prevention and control of infectious diseases to better maintain regional health security, and upholding multilateralism to create a better future that can be shared by all.

Ma also called on all countries to continue to work together in response to the pandemic, jointly protect regional and global health security and contribute to the construction of a global health community for all.

In the discussion section, attendees from China, Japan, South Korea and the WHO’s West Pacific Region exchanged views on pandemic-related actions, digital healthcare and pandemic prevention and control. Consensus was reached that solidarity and cooperation play a critical role in combating COVID-19.The conference also adopted a joint statement.