International Forum in Beijing Focuses on Advancing Medical Technology Collaboration

On May 29, experts from different Asian countries convened at an international forum held in Beijing to explore strategies for enhancing the exchange of medical technologies and fostering collaborative efforts aimed at improving healthcare services. Co-hosted by the Beijing International Centre of Science and Technology Cooperation and the Beijing office of the Asia-Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed), the event saw participation from more than 80 representatives across sectors such as government, academia, medical institutions, and industry.

Zhang Zehao, the deputy director of the Beijing center, indicated that among the forum's primary objectives were the acceleration of international applications of medical technology and the promotion of Chinese medical advancements on an international platform. Meanwhile, Zhang Li, the chief representative of APACMed in China, emphasized that Beijing's strategy of dual-engine industrial innovation development could provide significant opportunities for collaboration among the clinical, academic, and industrial sectors, particularly through advancements in information technology and the pharmaceutical industry.

Zeng Jinsong, the secretary-general at the Institute for Global Industry at Tsinghua University, reported the recent launch of a new industry evaluation standard in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which was introduced during a presentation to 193 nations and regions at the United Nations in April. He pointed out that a robust integration between academia and industry through international collaboration helps to overcome geographical constraints.

Further insights were shared by Xu Ming, director of the Department of Global Health at Peking University’s School of Public Health, who advocated for initiatives in cross-border infectious disease control, the sharing of health data, and pilot programs for tuberculosis screening and overall infectious disease prevention. He noted the merging of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, with existing public health systems is paving the way for a coordinated pharmaceutical regulatory framework among ASEAN countries. The forum also featured contributions from representatives of organizations like CP Group and Philips (China) Investment, who provided valuable insights from their respective areas of expertise in academia, clinical practice, and industry.