The Fourth China–ASEAN Public Health Cooperation Forum was successfully held in Hefei, Anhui Province, from June 30 to July 2, 2026. The forum was jointly organized by the School of Public Health of Peking University (PKUSPH) and the School of Public Health of Anhui University of Science and Technology, and co-hosted by the China–ASEAN Center for Public Health Science and Technology Cooperation.

With the theme “Cross-border Prevention, Control, Early Warning Monitoring of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases,” this forum brought together over 200 guests from Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and China, including leaders and experts from government departments, international organizations, and academic institutions, as well as corporate representatives. The forum aimed to deepen practical cooperation between China and ASEAN in areas such as joint prevention and control of infectious diseases, technological innovation, and data sharing, to jointly enhance regional public health security governance capabilities, and to build a closer China–ASEAN community on health and wellness.

Zhan Siyan, Dean of PKUSPH; Academician Yuan Liang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Anhui University of Science and Technology; Chan Myae Thu, Deputy Director of the China-ASEAN Center; Martin Taylor, WHO Representative to China (via video link); and Amanda Bissex, UNICEF Representative, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. During the keynote session, Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of the Department of Data, Strategy, and Innovation at WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office; Zhang Yuanzhi, Director of the Operational Data Division at the Big Data Center of the National Healthcare Security Administration; Sarawut Thepanondh, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University in Thailand; and Shu Yuelong, Director of the Institute of Pathogenic Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, delivered specialized presentations on cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence and digital health, the application of medical insurance big data,  environmental intelligence and early warning systems for emerging infectious diseases, and risk assessment of cross-species influenza transmission.

This conference has deepened regional health exchanges, fostered consensus and solidarity among ASEAN member states, and helped build a public health security barrier, making it of far-reaching significance.

Written by: Lang Lang

Edited by: LiuXin

Source: School of Public Health