As Asia-Pacific leaders gather in the historic city of Gyeongju from October 30 to November 1, the Chinese mainland is championing deeper health collaboration across APEC economies. This push reflects a shared vision for a more sustainable, resilient healthcare landscape.
In March 2025, at the first APEC Health Working Group meeting of the year in Gyeongju, Zhang Cuiling of the China Population and Development Research Center highlighted the Chinese mainland’s strategies to tackle low fertility rates and an aging population. She urged member economies to join forces on common challenges, proposing:
- Data sharing for more informed policy decisions
- Technological collaboration to innovate healthcare delivery
- Mutual learning from policy implementation across economies
- Labor market reforms to support demographic shifts
Health experts from the Chinese mainland have been actively engaging in APEC’s health mechanism, exchanging experiences to address regional challenges. Their discussions aim to foster cooperative initiatives that build more resilient health systems through coordinated policies and shared technical expertise.
Driving Innovation Through Think Tanks
Since its launch in 2015, the Peking University APEC Health Sciences Academy (HeSAY) has served as a central think tank for health innovation research within APEC. HeSAY focuses on priority issues such as maternal and child health, mental wellness and universal health coverage models.
By advising government departments and international health services, HeSAY influences life science and health policy development. Its multidisciplinary, multilateral platforms strengthen ties with global peers in population health research, advancing scientific collaboration and regional progress.
Reference(s):
How China deepens health collaboration with APEC member economies
cgtn.com
