On the morning of 21 October 2021, Peking University, Mahidol University of Thailand and the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) co-hosted the 2021 China-ASEAN Conference on Partnership in Medicine and Health and the General Assembly of China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medicine and Health. Representatives from 22 ASEAN medical institutions and 21 Chinese counterparts of the China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medicine and Health (hereinafter referred to as the Consortium) attended the conference online. Focusing on the global public health crisis of COVID-19, the conference reviewed how ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China jointly responded to the epidemic and discussed ways to better safeguard global public health security.

Mr. Hao Ping, President of Peking University, Ms. Liu Jin, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Qiao Jie, Executive Vice President of Peking University and Director of Peking University Health Science Centre (PKUHSC), Ms. Wang Hongliu, Director of the General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC, Assoc. Prof. Lau Tang Ching, Vice Dean of NUS Medicine, Prof. Prasit Watanapa, ASEAN President of the Consortium and Prof. Zhan Qimin, Chinese President of the Consortium addressed the opening ceremony. Prof. Zhang Ning, Vice Director of PKUHSC and Director of the Office of Scientific Research of Peking University, and Assoc. Prof. Prapat Wanitpongpan, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University, chaired the event.

Ms. Wang Hongliu stated that the year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations. ASEAN and China are friendly neighbours. Members of the Consortium have made full use of the platform in the past two years since its establishment to jointly enhance talent cultivation in medical care and public health, bring tangible benefits to people in the region and make contributions to regional public health security. It is hoped that this conference would further promote the in-depth exchanges and collaboration between ASEAN and China in the fields of medical education, research and healthcare and improve health care for better  regional public health and economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

It is agreed during the conference that health collaboration is an important aspect for ASEAN and China to achieve common development. The conference provided an effective platform for exchanges and collaboration on COVID-19 responses. The two sides will continuously strengthen anti-epidemic collaboration and the cultivation of health professionals, improve innovation capability and enhance joint medical research and practice.

The Council Meeting of the Consortium was held after the opening ceremony to review the major activities and initial achievements of the Consortium and discussed issues related to its future development.