Opening of the 2nd World Health Forum

Towards health equity, together for a shared future

On November 19, the 2nd World Health Forum, hosted by Tsinghua University and co-hosted by Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health and Tsinghua Institute for Healthy China, kicked off at Tsinghua University in Beijing. . The theme of the forum is Towards Health Equity, Together for a Shared Future.

The forum attracted distinguished guests from public health sectors, prestigious universities and institutions, international organizations, leading journals and NGOs from more than 10 countries and regions. Opening remarks were delivered by Li Bin, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Cao Xuetao, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, Wang Xiqin, Chairman of Tsinghua University, Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Margaret Chan, President of the Global Health Forum and Founding Dean of the Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health. Tsinghua Vice President Zeng Rong hosted the opening ceremony.

Jürg Burri, Swiss Ambassador to China, Liang Wannian, Executive Vice Dean of the Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health, Wang Kaibo, Vice Dean of the Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health, and representatives of the National Commission for health and the Chinese Ministry of Education, Diplomatic officers from other countries in China, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies and international organizations in China, also attended the opening ceremony. More than 100 faculty members, researchers and students from Tsinghua University attended the opening ceremony.

Li Bin stressed that public health is an integral part of Chinese modernization. President Xi Jinping has made it clear that we should give strategic priority to ensuring people’s health and improve public health promotion policies. This fully reflects the Chinese government’s great concern for people’s health and well-being, as well as the people-centered development philosophy.

She reviewed a series of landmark achievements in health service reform and development characterized by China, as well as the Chinese government’s efforts to advance “health equity” in the process of building health. a healthy China.

She stressed that, to achieve health equity, improving global health governance in a spirit of solidarity, multilateralism and continued outward-lookingness are essential. She hopes that through in-depth discussions on issues related to health equity, the forum will build consensus, foster cooperation and contribute to a better future for human health.

Cao Xuetao, relying on the report of the 20th CPC National Congress, stressed that the Chinese government adheres to the people-centered philosophy and has implemented a series of practical measures and made unremitting efforts to achieve the goal. to “fundamentally achieve health and equity by 2030”.

He stressed that achieving global health equity requires common wisdom and effort from the international community. The exchange of information and the sharing of experiences between countries must be improved. China will continue to actively participate in global health governance, actively implement the global development initiative, unite and cooperate to fight the epidemic, promote international cooperation and exchanges in and advance the building of a common health community for humanity.

Tsinghua Chairman Wang Xiqin said that a university is a place where human civilization can be inherited, integrated and developed. It has combined functions of scientific innovation, talent training, international exchanges and cooperation. Universities must take responsibility for protecting human life and health and promoting health equity. Tsinghua University adheres to putting people and their lives above everything else, giving high priority to public health and supporting it as a key development area of ​​the University. He also said that the University will make tireless efforts to apply systems thinking, maintain a global view, and remain open and inclusive, to enhance mutual learning and exchanges with global partners, and play an important role in the achievement of “universal health coverage”. and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Mr. Bill Gates stressed that to make COVID-19 the last global pandemic, the world must do the right things, including greater vaccine manufacturing capacity, a better healthcare system to ensure equal and timely access vaccines, enhanced disease surveillance, especially in low- and middle-income countries. He also highlighted the Gates Foundation’s commitment to bringing together partners from all sectors and national borders to achieve common goals.

Margaret Chan said achieving health equity is a long and complex goal. To achieve this, we must implement a just and people-centered development policy and “Leave no one behind”; we should unite political, economic and social efforts; we must harness the power of science and technology; and we should tackle the climate crisis that is preventing health equity. She stressed that the international community must act urgently in solidarity to achieve equity in health.

The two-day forum will bring together 70 global scholars, members of international organizations, industry leaders, scholars and futurists from more than 10 countries and regions to discuss long-term topics including Building a Service System of inclusive mental health for all; leaving no one behind: tackling the health problems of vulnerable populations; Achieve health equity through political, economic and social efforts; Universal health coverage: the power of science and technology; climate change and health equity; and realign health and poverty reduction towards the goals of the 2030 SDGs.

The Global Health Forum was launched by Tsinghua University in 2021. It aims to provide a platform for dialogue, scholarly exchange and experience sharing, to enhance capacity building and system strengthening of global health governance, and to contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. and building a common health community for humanity.

Source: tsinghua.edu.cn