KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Asean and China are seeking to deepen their decade-long health cooperation as the region confronts emerging public health threats, climate change, demographic shifts and rapid technological transformation.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the partnership is entering an increasingly consequential chapter, with both sides working towards resilient, inclusive and sustainable health systems capable of responding to present and future challenges.
“Our gathering today comes at a defining moment as we face the rapidly evolving health landscape, shaped by emerging public health threats, climate change, demographic shifts and accelerating technological transformation.
“These challenges remind us that resilient health systems are no longer simply a national priority. They are a shared regional imperative,” he said.
He said this in his opening remarks when chairing the 10th Asean-China Health Ministers’ Meeting in conjunction with the 17th Asean Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings here today.
The meeting was co-chaired with Vice-Minister of China’s National Health Commission Dr Liu Jinfeng.
Dzulkefly said discussions at the meeting, themed ‘Healthy Asean: Together Towards Equitable, Future Ready Health Systems’, would also contribute to the implementation of the Asean Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026-2030 and translate common aspirations into practical action.
“The decisions and perspectives we share today have the potential to strengthen the health and resilience of more than two billion people across Asean and China.
“Let us seize this opportunity to build a decade of partnership and look ahead with renewed resolve to deepen our cooperation for the decades to come,” he added.
He said the meeting also aims to provide strategic direction in advancing the Asean-China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation, capture collective commitments through a Joint Statement and ensure the partnership delivers tangible benefits to the people. — Bernama
