Li Bin, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), participates in the 14th Tripartite Health Ministers' Meeting virtually on Dec 21. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The 14th Tripartite Health Ministers' Meeting (THMM) was held via video link on Dec 21.

Speakers at the meeting included Li Bin, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), Shigeyuki Goto, minister of health, labor and welfare of Japan, Kwon Deok-cheol, minister of health and welfare of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Takeshi Kasai, World Health Organization regional director for the Western Pacific, and Ou Boqian, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat.

At the meeting, participants discussed issues such as COVID-19 pandemic response, healthy ageing, non-communicable chronic disease prevention and control as well as universal health coverage.

Li reviewed the cooperative measures China, Japan and the ROK have taken in the fight against COVID-19, and introduced China's practice and experience in dealing with the issues under discussion.

He proposed cooperative initiatives at the meeting. First, concerted efforts should be made to safeguard regional health security. Second, actions should be taken to promote regional health development. Third, multilateralism should be put into real practice.

He also called for joint endeavors to combat the pandemic and support the building of a global community of health for all.

The meeting adopted the Joint Statement of the Fourteenth Tripartite Health Ministers' Meeting and the Joint Action Plan on Preparedness and Response against Infectious Diseases with Pandemic or High Consequence Potential of Common Concern.

The China-Japan-ROK health cooperation mechanism was established in 2006. Japan holds its rotating chairmanship this year.