CRI听力:US-China Symposium on Ebola, Research, and Global Health Security

Chinese and American specialists and government officials have gathered in D.C. and reviewed their overall response in fighting Ebola, both domestically and in West Africa. Through this effort, the two sides are looking for more areas of cooperation in the health sector.

Sylvia Burwell, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, describes the relationship between the US and China as close when combating Ebola in West Africa.

"The close partnership on the ground between the USCDC and Chinese staff in the mobile laboratory that China sent to Sierra Leone was an important part of the response. China and the US along with other partners came together to save lives, and turned the tide of the epidemic."

Echoing Ms. Burwell, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong says it is not only about bilateral effects but of global significance.

"No matter what nation it is, we all face a double pressure from both the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Thus, strengthening Sino-US cooperation in the health sector goes beyond the health of our peoples and is of global significance."

According to the Vice Premier, after the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2014, China launched its largest foreign aid action since 1949. Over half a century, about 23,000 Chinese medical staff have been sent to 66 countries and regions for foreign aid actions. Their patients add up to 270 million worldwide.

The outbreak of Ebola actually drew the two countries closer in the health sector. For the first time, the China-US Consultation on People-to-People Exchange includes the health sector as one of its key areas to discuss.

More programs such as exchanges among hospital directors and other talents will be carried out to further the cooperation.

"I hope China and US can put talent training as a priority, to nurture more outstanding medical staff. I also hope that we can collaborate more in scientific research to face the global challenge. And we can learn from each other, as the US represents modern medical science and China has its traditional Chinese medicine. China would like to work with the US in multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization. In that way, Sino-US cooperation can benefit even more developing countries. "

The symposium has also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the China-US Collaborative Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases.

For CRI, I'm Sophie Williams.