China and U.S. Pledge Health Collaboration After Washington Talks

Chinese and U.S. health officials have agreed to bolster communication and cooperation on global health affairs. This decision came after rare talks in Washington, marking China's first health ministerial visit to the U.S. since 2017. The collaboration focuses on cancer prevention, treatment, and other medical issues.

Chinese and U.S. health officials have agreed to strengthen communication, cooperation, and coordination on global health affairs, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported late on Monday, following rare talks in Washington. China is open to increasing policy communication and coordination with the United States, focusing on medical issues including cancer prevention and treatment, said Cao Xuetao, deputy head of the National Health Commission.

Strengthening health cooperation between China and the United States benefits both nations, Cao noted, following the first ministerial-level visit by China's health authorities to the United States since 2017. In recent years, both countries have increased communication to stabilize relations, which were strained during the pandemic.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to create doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines supplied by China in the Philippines, as reported by Reuters earlier this year. In Washington, U.S. and Chinese health officials recognized the value of their long-standing partnership and expressed a willingness to pursue further exchanges, according to Xinhua.

This year, officials from both countries have stepped up engagement in areas including the economy, climate change, and the fentanyl crisis in the United States, despite ongoing tensions over Taiwan, Beijing's relationship with Moscow, and maritime disputes in the South China Sea. In September, the Biden administration imposed steep tariffs on Chinese imports, triggering protests from Beijing.

(With inputs from agencies.)