BEIJING: The
Second China-Arab States Health Cooperation Forum concluded on Friday with
conferees' approval of the 'Beijing Initiative' designed to bolster health
cooperation between the Chinese and Arab nations this year. According to a
statement issued at end of the meeting, the Chinese and Arab conferees held
in-depth discussions on deepening mutual cooperation in health 'and joint
building of the silk road.'

The two sides
affirmed resolve to purse cooperation for bolstering "the process of
construction of the Arab-Chinese silk road in the health sector" and seek
to build healthy societies in the two nations. According to the 'Beijing
Initiative,' as cited by the convention final statement, health is a basis for
attaining objective of comprehensive sustainable health by 2030; with special
attention to health care for mothers, children and teenagers.

It noted
necessity of boosting dialogue, swapping information about the two sides'
strategies with respect of health development, systems and legislations. The
'Beijing Initiative' called for Sino-Arab cooperation in the fields of
prevention from major diseases, as well as communicable and emerging ailments,
through enhancing technical coordination. Moreover, aspired greater cooperation
between the two nations, according to the initiative, calls for personnel
training, swap of specialists, enhanced emergency services, in addition to
securing medical services for the impoverished, the elderly, women, the kids
and the people of special needs.

It applauded a
proposal to establish a joint center for applied research and called for a
framework to merge benefits of the modern medicine with those of the Chinese
popular medicine. Furthermore, it called for establishing a joint network for
cooperation among hospitals, exchanging expertise in hospital management,
cadres' training and conventional medicine. It noted that the third session
would be held at a member state of the Arab League, but indicated that the date
of it would be set according to a future agreement between the Arab and Chinese
sides.

Strengthening
ties

Meanwhile,
Kuwaiti Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, representing State
of Kuwait at the forum, said the Kuwaiti participation crowned the 2018 state
visit to China by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah. Addressing the meeting, the minister affirmed that the Kuwaiti
involvement in the event emanated from the solid ties between the two
countries, noting that His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's
visit to Beijing last year resulted in elevating level of the relations between
the two friendly countries, turning them into a comprehensive, strategic
relationship.

He expressed
gratitude to all personnel who played a role in organizing this major forum for
the second time, noting that it constituted a good result of the constructive
cooperation between the Council of Arab Health Ministers and China. Such a
relationship is a framework for exchanging views, expertise, policies and
programs between the two sides' health leaders for facing challenges and
attaining the international goal for sustainable development, 2030, with
respect of the sector in particular, Sheikh Dr Basel added.

The 'Beijing
Declaration' opens a new chapter in the relations between the two sides for
bolstering health cooperation, he added further. The State of Kuwait
participated in the meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Health headed
by Sheikh Dr Basel. It includes the State of Kuwait Ambassador to China Sameeh
Hayat. Also addressing the gathering, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazala, the Arab
League assistant general secretary for social affairs, indicated that the
conferees would address a host of issues, namely health policies,
pharmaceutical industries, conventional medicine, public health, training
cadres, producing vaccines and serums.

Meanwhile,
Chinese Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei urged for pressing ahead with building
'the silk road' in the health sector, noting that Beijing had inked 12
memoranda of understanding in the health field with Arab states, also
indicating that the cooperation had resulted in executing a number of
cooperation ventures in sectors of prevention from epidemics, building public
health facilities, mother and child health care and conventional medicine. He
called for enhancing the Arab-Chinese cooperation at this level. - KUNA