A delegation of Mérieux Foundation visited Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) in May 8. Mr. Alain Mérieux, President of the foundation, together with Mr. Arnaud Favry of Political Affairs and the foundation’s Chief Representative in China, had talks with the PKUHSC leadership on topics including Sino-French public health cooperation, infectious disease prevention and control, research, and training.

During the meeting, Prof. Wang Jiadong, Vice President of the PKUHSC, extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He said the theme of the meeting is highly relevant in light of global needs and PKUHSC missions. He expressed firm belief that cooperation between the two sides would yield positive results in building high-level joint research platform, exploring training system with international view, and accelerating translation and application of cutting-edge research. He reiterated commitment of the PKUHSC in supporting joint efforts between its School of Public Health and the Mérieux Foundation in the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and reciprocity.

Since his first visit to China in 1978, Mr. Mérieux has been a champion for pragmatic Sino-French cooperation in public health and infectious disease prevention and control. He said China is vital in addressing global health challenges, and that scientific research, medical practice and humanistic care should be integrated in a meaningful way to advance international health cooperation.

The meeting was moderated by Prof. Zhan Siyan, Dean of the PKUHSC School of Public Health. Other PKUHSC participants of the meeting included Prof. Ren Minghui, Director of the China Center for Health Development Studies and Dean of the Global Health Institute, and Madam Li Xiaojia, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation.

After the meeting, Mr. Mérieux and his delegation visited the PKUHSC archives.

Written by: Fan Xiaofei

Edited by: Liu Xin

Source: Office of International Cooperation, School of Public Health