The ninth Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Ministers' Meeting was held on April 20 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Shen Hongbing, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission and director of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, led the Chinese delegation to attend the meeting and delivered a speech.

He stated that China has been actively implementing the outcomes of the SCO Tianjin Summit. This includes continuously providing free medical services such as Brightness Action, a Chinese medical aid program providing free cataract surgeries, in SCO countries, establishing the China-SCO Cooperation Center for Metabolic Diseases and advancing practical cooperation through platforms such as the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-Up Pilot Zone. Guided by the Shanghai Spirit, China is ready to strengthen policy coordination and experience sharing with other SCO member states to jointly build an SCO community of health, he added.

At relevant thematic sessions, the Chinese delegation presented experience and practices in building a Healthy China and improving the healthcare service system.

On the sidelines of the event, Shen also met separately with the heads of health departments of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as Hans Kluge, World Health Organization regional director for Europe.