Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, March 21 /Xinhua/ — Implementing the "Healthy China" initiative will not only benefit the Chinese people but also contribute to global health governance and the overall well-being of humanity. This opinion was expressed by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui in an article published Thursday on the Russian internet portal Life.ru.
"China, through systemic institutional decisions and practical results, is writing a new chapter in protecting people's health and promoting equitable development: from accelerating the development of new productive forces in healthcare to expanding and redirecting high-quality medical resources to local areas. This will not only benefit the Chinese people but also contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global health governance and improve the common well-being of humanity," the Chinese diplomat stated, adding that achieving a "Healthy China" by 2035 is a strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee, and the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) will be a key stage in achieving this goal.
The article emphasizes that China consistently prioritizes people's lives and health in its development strategy. Since the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's healthcare system has achieved historic success: the average life expectancy of the Chinese population has reached 79.25 years, an increase of 1.32 years compared with 2020; infant and maternal mortality rates have decreased; the coverage rate of basic medical insurance has exceeded 95% of the population; and a robust medical service network has been established, covering both cities and rural areas. China is actively redirecting medical resources to the primary care level, rural and border areas, as well as to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwest China) and the Xizang Autonomous Region (XAR, southwest China).
The Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation also noted that traditional Chinese medicine is not only preserved and developed within the country, but has also spread to 196 countries and regions worldwide. "Its ancient wisdom of 'treating before illness' works in concert with modern medicine, thus making traditional Chinese medicine a unique link, fostering mutual understanding between nations and protecting human health," he emphasized.
Zhang Hanhui noted that China has achieved high public health indicators at a relatively low cost. "This is based on the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as the unwavering focus on using technology for the benefit of the people," he said, citing the example of the centralized drug procurement system, which reduces artificially inflated prices and significantly reduces the financial burden on the population when receiving medical care.
The publication notes that China is actively promoting the development of new productive forces in the healthcare sector in the area of scientific and technological innovation: advanced technologies such as AI for diagnostics and remote medicine, brain-computer interfaces, and surgical robots are being actively implemented. "Scientific and technological innovations are accelerating the resolution of the problem of uneven distribution of medical resources. At the primary healthcare level, in regions with appropriate conditions, the possibility of creating new diagnostic and treatment systems using artificial intelligence is being explored," explained Zhang Hanhui, adding that the strategic objective of the "Healthy China" program is to transition the healthcare system from a "disease-focused" model to a "people's health-focused" model.
The Chinese diplomat stated that health is the common aspiration of all humanity, and public health security is a common challenge facing humanity. He recalled that China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity in the area of health has been repeatedly included in World Health Assembly resolutions. China actively participates in the discussion of international regulations, including the negotiation of the Pandemic Control Agreement, and provides assistance in emergency situations. "Furthermore, China has long been dispatching medical teams to dozens of countries and regions around the world, enhancing mutual study and exchange of traditional medical knowledge, and jointly strengthening regional public health security," Zhang Hanhui stated.
The ambassador emphasized that China-Russia cooperation in healthcare is an important part of the two countries' humanitarian exchanges and practical cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding on the Digital Transformation of Healthcare was signed in September 2025. As the article emphasizes, the two sides are continuously deepening cooperation in areas such as infectious disease prevention and control, disaster medicine, traditional medicine, and cross-border medical tourism, as well as in the fight against cancer through international clinical trials aimed at advancing the development and implementation of new anticancer drugs, which should benefit patients in both countries and beyond.
Zhang Hanhui noted that 2026 marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and the construction of a "Healthy China" is entering a new phase of improving quality and efficiency. He assured that China is ready to join Russia and other countries in adhering to the concept of "people first, life the highest value," using health as a bridge, and cooperation as a connecting link.
"This will enable us to transform our high level of strategic cooperation into tangible results in healthcare that benefit people, to jointly create a beautiful world with a shared destiny and prosperity, and to make a new and even more significant contribution to the cause of human healthcare," concluded the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
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