Director General of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wang Yu (left), former Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. David Butler-Jones (middle) and moderator (right) are exchanging views on public health issues. (Photo/CRIENGLISH.com)
A senior Canadian official says Canada is looking forward to cooperating with China on healthcare reform issues in the future, as part of further health collaborations between the two countries.
Canada's Ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques made the remarks on Tuesday evening over an event to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Canada-China Health Cooperation.
He says Canada is keen to share its experience in universal healthcare to assist with China's health care system reform.
The ambassador stresses that health is one of the pillars of Canada-China cooperation.
Last year Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang committed to increase health sector cooperation, including enhanced joint research on infectious diseases, chronic diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, food safety, health innovation along with health emergency preparedness and response.
Around 100 senior officials, health experts and scholars from both countries held talks on tackling public health problems such as emergency diseases and biosafety among others.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Wang Yu notes that despite international collaboration, self-innovation is necessary for China in preparation for emergency response and emerging infectious diseases.
Later in the year, a series of activities will be held to mark the two counties' effective cooperation in the health sector over the past two decades.