Lei Haichao, minister of China's National Health Commission who led a delegation to the 78th World Health Assembly, held separate meetings with health ministers of various countries on the sidelines of the assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 17 to 20.

The health ministers meeting with Lei included Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, Cuban Minister of Public Health José Angel Portal Miranda, Pakistan’s Minister of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal, Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui, Brazilian Federal Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha, Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, South African Health Minister Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, and Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani. They engaged in in-depth discussions on advancing bilateral and multilateral health cooperation.

Lei commended the progress made in health collaboration with these countries, noting that China is ready to promote policy communication and coordination between health departments. China is willing to provide support for further practical cooperation in areas such as universal health coverage, traditional medicine, infectious disease prevention and control, growth of the pharmaceutical industry and talent development, so as to jointly address global health challenges and promote the building of a global community of health for all, Lei added.

Health ministers of these countries highly praised China's achievements in the health sector. They expressed a willingness to further deepen cooperation with China in key areas and strengthen coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the World Health Organization, BRICS, G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to enhance bilateral coordination and benefit the health of their populations.