The 11th APEC High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy was held on Aug 24 via video link. Li Bin, vice-minister of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), participated in and spoke at the meeting.

Li said that China has been committed to multi-level and multi-channel anti-COVID-19 cooperation with the international community, contributing to making COVID-19 vaccine a global public good, and promoting accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

He also noted that China is willing to deepen communication in the virus fight as well as health policy and technical exchanges with APEC member economies, opposes politicization of COVID-19 origin tracing, and is ready to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic with joint efforts, so as to facilitate the building of a global community of health for all.

The meeting discussed issues such as the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups, vaccine and medical product trade and supply chains, prevention of and response to infectious diseases as well as other health threats. The Chinese delegates briefed participants on China's measures to maintain equitable access to health services for vulnerable groups such as those in rural and remote areas.

Over 110 representatives from APEC member economies, the World Health Organization and the Asian Development Bank took part in the meeting.