Hong Kong holds Asia Summit on Global Health

HONG KONG, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The second Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), kicked off here Thursday.

Under the theme of "Charting a New Course in Healthcare through Collaboration", the two-day summit has brought together experts and industry people from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in the healthcare and medical fields in person or online.

John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said at the opening ceremony that innovation and technology are at the heart of Hong Kong's policy priorities. They are also Hong Kong's drive to build collaborative programs and initiatives with the country and the larger world in order to tackle healthcare and other challenges.

The InnoHK research clusters at the Hong Kong Science Park bring together more than 30 prominent universities and research institutes from 11 countries and economies, Lee said, adding that in collaboration with local universities, they have set up 28 research laboratories, 16 of which focus on life and health technology.

Beginning in 2024, the HKSAR government will make use of land in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park to attract notable companies and talent to Hong Kong, and the focus will be on such strategic industries as life and health technology, he said.

Cao Xuetao, deputy head of the National Health Commission, noted in his video speech that Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of being backed by the motherland.

The commission welcomes Hong Kong's medical and nursing communities and medical colleges to actively exchange views with their counterparts in the mainland, as well as strengthen cooperation in medical technology innovation and application, and clinical practice, Cao said.

The commission supports Hong Kong's integration into the overall health development of the country, and promotes the integrated development of health services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, he added.

In her video speech, Zsuzsanna Jakab, deputy director-general of the World Health Organization, said that the power of science, research, and innovation is important in addressing global health issues.

She noted that building strong and more resilient health systems, capable of responding to emergencies and other threats, will be central to all countries' development, prosperity and national security.