ACC Representatives Attended the China-ASEAN Medical Education Symposium & Roundtable Discussion on Establishing China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medical Education, Research and Healthcare

On 26 July 2019, the China-ASEAN Medical Education Symposium & Roundtable Discussion on Establishing China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medical Education, Research and Healthcare was convened in Guiyang, Guizhou. This event was co-hosted by Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC), the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Guizhou Medical University. Prof. Zhan Qimin, Standing Vice President of Peking University, President of Peking University Health Science Center and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Prof. Lin Changhu, Chair of the University Council of Guizhou Medical University, Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya, President of Mahidol University, Thailand and Mr. Zou Lianke, Director-General of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered remarks.

Ms. Zhou Hui, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture, and Tourism Division of ACC read out the Letter of Congratulation by Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC. Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated in the Letter that as the complementarity between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of ASEAN countries has been enhanced in recent years, the bilateral exchanges and mutual learning in medical education have become more and more frequent, promising broad prospects for practical cooperation. In this context, it is of great significance to promote integrated development of the medical and healthcare cause in the region by bringing together experts and scholars in medical education and research from both sides, to share experience in personnel cultivation, academic discipline building, scientific and technological innovation and social services, and explore long-term mechanism for exchanges and cooperation in medical education.

More than 100 representatives of 7 universities from ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as over a dozen universities from China attended this event. Prof. Liang Guiyou, President of Guizhou Medical University, Prof. Wu Fan, Vice President of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Prof. Dong Weiguo, Deputy Director of the Graduate School, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Zhang Liping, Assistant President of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Prof. Zhang Ning, Vice President of Peking University Health Science Center, Prof. Vorasuk Shotelersuk, Associate Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Prof. Lau Tang Ching, Vice Dean of Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Pham Nhu Hai, Vice Dean of School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Viet Nam National University, Hanoi, Prof. Vonthanak SAPHONN, Rector of University of Health Sciences, Cambodia and Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya, President of Mahidol University, Thailand delivered keynote speeches themed around medical education and regional cooperation, sharing good practices of international collaborative engagement in the field of medical education and health care.

In the afternoon of 26 July, representatives continued with a roundtable session, which focused on the organisation framework and operation mechanism of the proposed China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medical Education, Research and Healthcare. University representatives of both sides reached consensus on establishing the China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medical Education, Research and Healthcare. It was agreed that the Consortium would be officially launched in Beijing in autumn 2019.