BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health (CASTCCPH) was officially established in April 2023. Under the support of the National Ministry of Science and Technology and the collaborative guidance of multiple ministries and commissions, and with the support of the National Ministry of Science and Technology's Science and Technology Assistance to Developing Countries project, Peking University took the lead in the construction of the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health which is currently led by Academician Qiao Jie, Executive Vice-President of Peking University and President of Peking University Health Science Center, and attached to Peking University School of Public Health. The construction of the center implements the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speech "to help ASEAN strengthen the construction of public health system and talent training, and improve the ability to respond to major public health emergencies" at the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue in 2021, and important initiative proposed by then Premier Li Keqiang at the 24th and 25th China-ASEAN Summit. The Ministry of Science and Technology proposed at the 11th meeting of the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Joint Committee in 2022 to support Peking University to take the lead in building a platform for China-ASEAN public health science and technology cooperation.
Since its establishment, the Center has continued to promote Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health, to build a base for China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health, to focus on major public health issues facing China and ASEAN countries, to strengthen exchanges with ASEAN partners, and to gradually establish a network of key public health institutions in China-ASEAN region, and to form a long-term development mechanism in the field of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health. It has gradually established a cooperation network covering key institutions in China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health, formed a long-term development mechanism between China and ASEAN countries in the field of public health science and technology cooperation, and played an important scientific and technological supportive role in boosting the quality and upgrading of the relationship between China and ASEAN, constructing a closer community of destiny between China and ASEAN, and promoting the peace and prosperity of the region. The objectives of the Center are summarized as four points，to establish a set of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health mechanisms, to produce a batch of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation results, to cultivate a China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation team, to build a China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation team, and to build a China-ASEAN platform for the exchange of public health data and personnel.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Center has five governing institutions: the Steering Committee, the Management Committee, the Academic Committee, the Development Cooperation Committee, and the Secretariat. Among them, the Steering Committee is led by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China and consists of ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and the National Agency for Disease Control and Prevention. The 13-member Management Committee consists of a Center Director, an Executive Director (currently the Dean of the School of Public Health), three Deputy Directors, and eight members to manage the work of each research sub-center. The Academic Committee has 24 members, including 10 domestic experts and 14 experts from ASEAN countries, plays a technical guidance role for joint scientific discussions, technical exchanges, and strategic development. The Secretariat Office is composed of 6 persons， and is located in the Department of Global Health, School of Public Health.
Based on the operation mechanism of "one center, multiple research networks", the Center has set up sub-research centers to form different research networks, which will be gradually expanded according to the Center's construction and development needs. Currently, ten sub-research centers have been established, and relevant research teams and individuals from China and ASEAN partners can join the corresponding sub-research centers according to their research areas to form a research network in their respective research areas and carry out research and cooperation under the coordination of the sub-research centers. The ten corresponding sub-research centers include China-ASEAN Health Governance and Development Cooperation Research Center, China-ASEAN Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Strategy Research Center, China-ASEAN Health Big Data Research Center, China-ASEAN Health System Construction and National Health Coverage Research Center, China-ASEAN Maternal and Child Health Research Center, China-ASEAN Health Technology and Product Innovation and Transformation Research Center, China-ASEAN Medical Product Regulatory Cooperation Research Center, China-ASEAN International Cooperation Research Center for Health Emergency Response, China-ASEAN Research Center for Climate Change and Environmental Governance, and China-ASEAN Research Center for Whole Life Cycle Health Promotion.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023-2024
According to the overall planning of the Center and focusing on the construction objectives, the construction tasks have been implemented in the following five areas and milestones have been achieved.
On 25 April 2023, the inaugural meeting and awarding ceremony of the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health was held at Peking University. Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University, Zhou HaoLi, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, and Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, Vice President of Mahidol University, Thailand, attended and delivered speeches. Qiao Jie, Executive Vice President of Peking University and Dean of the Health Science Center, presided over the conference. The inaugural meeting was a crucial first step for the operation and development of the Center.
01.Establishment of a long-term mechanism and development project for China-ASEAN public health science and technology cooperation
The Center visited relevant government agencies, universities, institutes and international organizations in ASEAN countries and conducted close communication on the mechanism of cooperation. In August and December 2023, the Center had exchanged with the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and WHO Office in Thailand, the Ministry of Health of Myanmar and WHO Office in Myanmar, as well as the China-ASEAN Center, respectively. In September and December 2023, the Center conducted workshops with the ASEAN Foundation, the School of Public Health of Mahidol University in Thailand, the School of Public Health of the National University of Singapore, the University of Public Health Yangon, and the University of Medicine 1 Yangon, respectively.
Based on the existing partners and forms of cooperation, the Center has continued to expand its partnerships and join hands with its partners to explore and improve the management and development planning of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health. As of the end of 2023, the Center has officially signed domestic partners from 5 institutions, including the Institute of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention（CDC）, College of ASEAN Studies of Guangxi University for Nationalities, Nanjing Medical University, Anhui University of Science and Technology, and Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University. International partners include Mahidol University, the University of Public Health Yangon, University of Medicine 1 Yangon, National University of Singapore, National University of Health Sciences of Laos, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Gadjah Mada University of Indonesia.
02. Carrying out China-ASEAN joint public health research and development demonstration projects, giving full play to the Chinese side's advantages in public health technology, and supporting the transformation and application of disease prevention and control technology in ASEAN countries
In 2023, the Center initiated six joint R&D demonstration projectsand published high-level articles to domestic and foreign academic journals. The projects include:
01. Joint project on malaria control and elimination in Myanmar with the Ministry of Health of Myanmar, Action for Healthy Poverty Alleviation (AHPA);
02. Collaboration with the International Institute for Health Research of the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and others on a project to enhance the capacity of primary health services;
03. Evaluation project of the pilot reform of strategic purchasing of primary health services in conjunction with the Myanmar Health Poverty Alleviation Initiative (MHPAI);
04. Joint research with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City on universal health coverage and health equity;
05. oint research with the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association and the National University of Singapore on scientific and technological research on health development co-operation and regulation of medicinal products in ASEAN countries;
06. Joint experience-sharing project with Mahidol University on maternal and neonatal management in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, etc.
More projects will be implemented progressively in 2024.
03. Building a platform for the Center's external publicity and a China-ASEAN public health data management platform
The development of the Center's website (https://cascph.bjmu.edu.cn/) has been completed and put online, which has become an effective media channel for showcasing the Center's construction, scientific research, cooperation results, mutual visit activities, and talent exchange, as well as a platform for sharing resources with domestic and international partners.
In 2024, the Center will continue to build the China-ASEAN Public Health Data Management Platform, improve more functional modules, and steadily work on content optimization, data tool development, platform construction, and operation.
The Center has also produced an information leaflet as a material for communication and promotion of the Center's basic information.
04. Implementing China-ASEAN public health science and technology talent exchange visits and launching talent training and teaching programs
Since June 2023, the Center's team has made a total of 28 visits to ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore, and has received 22 visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, etc. The Center has promoted China-ASEAN exchanges and cooperation in public health science and technology talents by setting up a platform for personnel exchange visits.
The Center has established Asian first overseas teaching and research practice base for global health in Myanmar and will establish more practice bases in ASEAN countries in the future.
The Center has established an all-English postgraduate teaching platform and has put nearly 10 open course resources online, such as Global Integration of Pharmaceutical Product Regulation and China's Foreign Aid and Health Development Cooperation.
Peking University's Executive Master of Public Health (EMPH) program is a joint degree program in public health for the "Belt and Road" countries, which has graduated more than 30 students in two sessions and intends to start enrolling students from ASEAN countries in 2025.
05. Organise the first Forum on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Public Health to exchange and share major research results and policies and practices
In August 2023, the Center held the first Forum on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Public Health in Guiyang, with the theme of "Win-Win Cooperation and Building an ASEAN Regional Health Community", inviting more than 100 leaders and experts from government departments, academic institutions and international organizations of China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to attend the event, Under the theme of "Cooperation and Win-Win, Building ASEAN Regional Health Community", the Forum invited more than 100 leaders and experts from government departments, academic institutions and international organizations of China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Forum on China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation in Public Health aims to promote high-level exchanges.
Opening ceremony and sub-forums
Sub-forum 1: China-ASEAN Public Health Technology and Product Innovation and Transformation
Sub-forum 2: China-ASEAN Cooperation on Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Policy and Development
Sub-forum 3: China-ASEAN Healthy Development of Women, Children and Youth
Sub-forum 4: China-ASEAN Environmental Health Governance and Regional Cooperation
Sub-forum 5: China-ASEAN Public Health System Construction and Universal Health Coverage
The 2nd Forum on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Public Health will be held on June 27, 2024 at Peking University. The forum will focus on innovations in medical products and technology cooperation, and conduct in-depth exchanges in the areas of medical device regulatory science and innovation, climate change and health, digital technology and health systems, maternal and child health and international standardization development.
In addition, the Center, as an executive member of Public Health Interprofessional Leadership Alliance (PHILA) directed by the World Health Organization and co-sponsored by Zhejiang University, Peking University, and Harbin Medical University, has jointly convened representatives of medical universities from several ASEAN countries to China to support the strengthening of multidisciplinary human resources in China and other relevant countries. In April and October 2024, a series of activities will be carried out to further expand the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health network.
In April 2024, the Alliance held a training session at Zhejiang University, where relevant representatives of the Center and experts and professors from National University of Singapore, Mahidol University, the University of Health Sciences of Lao PDR, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Yangon University of Public Health convened a side meeting to exchange and discuss the work of the Center for China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation for Public Health and their intentions for future cooperation.
