International Health Industry Forum of Boao Forum for Asia

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent Video

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to thank the Boao Forum for Asia for the invitation to address the opening ceremony of the International Health Industry Forum.

I also thank the Beijing Municipal Government, the Organizing Committee of the Global Health Forum and the Management Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area for their efforts in organizing this event.

During this month’s World Health Day, where we observed the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO), we reflected on the many public health success stories that have saved lives and improved the quality of life for so many globally over the past decades.

From progress in the eradication of infectious diseases such as polio and smallpox, to advances in antibiotics, antiretrovirals, and immunizations, humanity has much to be proud of.

However, achieving the vision of Health For All, where everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health and well-being, now requires us to come together with science, solutions, and solidarity to tackle today’s challenges for a healthier future.

That is why we continue to welcome the vision and commitment of promoting health and well-being for all people in China, first outlined by President Xi Jinping through the Healthy China 2030 initiative.

This vision, which places health as a prerequisite for economic and social development, is consistent with the objectives of Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.

China has indeed achieved significant progress in health system reform, particularly in expanding service coverage and reforming health insurance for improved access and affordability.

But the demands of an ageing population and the rising tide of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer create significant challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, one in three cigarettes smoked worldwide are smoked in China, and other trends in areas such as healthy diet and physical activity present significant implications for long-term sustainability.

To build on prior successes and address rising public expectations for high-quality health services, the Healthy China 2030 initiative sets out to adopt a life-course approach, emphasizing prevention through Healthy Cities, while developing industries and fostering innovation.

This also has the potential to reap huge benefits for the rest of the world, including countries in the Global South.

Here, we stand ready to offer our support and technical expertise to the government on policies toward a healthier China, while assisting in its greater focus on prevention through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Innovation will be critical for this vision, as emphasized by the WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025, which proposes that digital health be people-centred while strengthening systems and promoting population health to ensure no one is left behind.

As these trends accelerate, now is the time to adopt these 21st-century tools and fortify their governance and regulation in our journey towards Universal Health Coverage.

While the pace and scale at which new advances are adopted and implemented must pick up, equity is the key, and emphasis must be placed on the science and innovations that make the biggest difference to the people furthest behind.

Similarly, while the development of standards, the building of data infrastructure, and the promotion of telemedicine offer the opportunity to strengthen the health system and transform service delivery, we must give pause to assess whether this benefits the population equitably.

The task ahead and the complexity of global health challenges necessitate that we collaborate, both in a cross-sectoral and multilateral manner, to strengthen our partnerships and forge new ways to invest in and support innovation for a healthier and sustainable future.

And just as the COVID-19 pandemic also revealed, we must rethink our view of health not as a cost but as an investment in productive, resilient and stable economies and societies.

The Greek philosopher Herophilus said, “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless and intelligence cannot be applied.” 

Friends, we must work together to harness the promise of big data, science, technologies and innovations to make a real difference in the health and well-being of all.

Health after all is the foundation of human development and social progress.

Thank you.