Foreign aid training facilitates internationalization of Chinese medical and healthcare standards

In April 2024, a seminar on cooperation between China and African countries on standardization of public healthcare, jointly designed by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and China's State Administration for Market Regulation, was held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province. Thirty-six health department officials from five African countries, including Ethiopia, and the African Union participated in the seminar. They gained a greater understanding of China's development process and policy practices in public healthcare, especially in the standardization of traditional Chinese medicine, through lectures, field visits, workshops and cultural experiences. After returning to their countries, they contributed to strengthening cooperation with China in medical and healthcare standardization, which promoted pragmatic health cooperation between China and Africa. This training program effectively promoted international exchanges in China's medical and healthcare standardization, playing a positive role in the building of a China-Africa health community.

Promoting China-Africa cooperation in public healthcare standardization

Moore from Liberia, with a doctoral degree, has studied at Shandong University and Central South University's Xiangya School of Medicine in Central China's Hunan province. 

"12 years ago, I embarked on a journey to study in China, beginning an extraordinary exploration of Chinese language and clinical medicine," he said. 

"Now, I return to the land that once nurtured me in new capacities as assistant minister of health of Liberia and an obstetrician and gynecologist. It is not only an acknowledgment of my personal abilities but also reflects China's outstanding achievements and boundless possibilities in international talent development." 

During his training in China, Moore had in-depth discussions with Chinese experts on how to strengthen international standardization cooperation to address global public health challenges. Upon returning to Liberia, he recounted his experiences at the seminar to the minister of health and proposed specific cooperation plans between Liberia and China in establishing public healthcare standards.

Establishing cooperation platform for Chinese and African biopharmaceutical enterprises

Ms Fortune works at Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health. During her training in China, she gained a deep understanding of China’s experiences and practices in public healthcare, and built connections with a large number of well-known Chinese medical institutions and corporations. "Bio-testing laboratories throughout Sierra Leone urgently need standardized medical equipment to enhance testing levels and efficiency," Fortune said. 

"Chinese medical equipment manufacturing companies can provide high-quality equipment, professional technical support and comprehensive after-sales service, with the potential to establish a presence in the Sierra Leone market." 

After returning to Sierra Leone, Fortune maintained close contact with a number of leading Chinese biotech companies and is facilitating their cooperation with companies in her own country.

Opening a new chapter in international standards for traditional Chinese medical instruments

The China-aided training included courses on standard explanation and practical operation of pestle needles – a Chinese medical instrument. The lecture and a demonstration session by Chinese experts impressed the foreign trainees. At the time, the international standard for "Li's pestle needle" instruments was at the proposal initiation stage with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Thanks to the strong support of the origin countries of the foreign trainees, which are also members of the ISO, it has since become the first international standard for traditional Chinese medical instruments in Sichuan, opening a new chapter for the international application and trade of Chinese traditional medical instruments.