Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), holds a talk with UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid via video link on Nov 26. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The 2021 China-UK health dialogue was held by China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care on Nov 26.

NHC Minister Ma Xiaowei and UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid attended the event and delivered opening speeches. The two sides signed a joint statement at the dialogue.

Before the dialogue, Ma and Javid exchanged views via video link on COVID-19 prevention and control, key points of bilateral health cooperation and other issues of common concern.

Ma spoke positively of China-UK health collaboration, noting that mutually beneficial cooperation serves the common interests of the two countries. He said that China is willing to strengthen all-around bilateral health collaboration with the UK in various areas, put multilateralism into real practice and jointly safeguard global health security, so as to promote the building of a global community of health for all.

Javid hailed the progress made in health collaboration between the two countries, and said the UK hopes to enhance policy exchanges and practical cooperation with China to contribute to the health of the people of the two countries and of the world.

During the dialogue, representatives from both sides had in-depth exchanges on issues such as the COVID-19 situation, pandemic prevention and control, diagnosis, treatment and testing, and vaccine research and development, as well as global health security. Around 30 officials and experts from the health and foreign affairs departments of the two countries participated in the videoconference.