Distinguished experts and educators in public health from leading schools of public health in the Asia-Pacific region gathered Wednesday at the Chinese University of Hong Kong to exchange views and formulate directions and strategies in public education.

The latest trend and development of public health education and topical public health issues at an international and regional level will be viewed at the three-day 32nd Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference.

"Most Asia Pacific countries are going through a period of health transition with changing disease patters, aging of population and the emergence of public health problems associated with behavior and changes in the physical and socio-economic environment," said Lee Shiu-hung, Director of School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

"This conference provides us a forum to share experience and promote collaboration," he said.

Established in 1984, APACPH is committed to promoting quality health education among member schools. It has a membership of 44 schools of public health and departments of community medicine from 17 Asia Pacific countries and regions.