A symposium was held by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority on site and via video link on May 3. Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), delivered a video speech at the symposium, while Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Hong Kong health officials attended it on site.

Ma reviewed the major achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong and introduced the headways in COVID-19 vaccination and regular COVID-19 prevention and control on the mainland. He also briefed the participants on the mainland’s key healthcare tasks, including in-depth reform of the medical system, positive actions in response to an aging population, effective transition from health-assisted poverty alleviation to rural vitalization, and consistent promotion of the Healthy China initiative. 

He said that the NHC will, as always, enhance exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong in medical fields, continue to make joint efforts with Hong Kong in COVID-19 prevention and control and push forward the integrated growth of health services on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

Lam congratulated the Hong Kong Hospital Authority on its 30th anniversary of establishment and expressed her appreciation for its sustained commitment to providing medical services to Hong Kong residents. She reviewed and fully affirmed the progress Hong Kong has made in combating COVID-19 and in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, stressing that further efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation, innovation and mutual trust.

Over 3,000 representatives in medical fields, including those from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas areas, took part in the symposium.