China CDC, KDCA sign memorandum of understanding on cooperation

Shen Hongbing, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), and Dr. Youngmee Jee, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation on Dec 4, 2023, on the sidelines of the 17th China-Japan-Korea Forum and Joint Symposium for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention held in Seoul, South Korea.

Shen reviewed what has been achieved in cooperation between the China CDC and the KDCA over the past two decades. According to him, China and South Korea have carried out multi-faceted cooperation through multilateral and bilateral channels in the fields of emergency response, infectious disease prevention and control, and scientific research, which has improved the disease control capabilities of both sides and enhanced mutual trust and partnerships.

Shen noted that this MOU is a direct demonstration of outcome from the joint statement released at the 16th Tripartite Health Ministers' Meeting on Dec 3, and will better cement the China-South Korea partnership in public health.

Jee lauded the fruitful cooperation between the two disease control agencies, and said that under the framework of the MOU, the two sides will continue to strengthen ties in the prevention and control of infectious diseases and develop new projects to curb chronic non-communicable diseases. Joint efforts will also be made to explore the possibility of global health collaboration with other countries or regions, she added.

A continuation of the previous edition, the newly signed MOU is expected to advance the signatory countries' practical cooperation in 11 areas, including infectious disease prevention and control, chronic disease monitoring and public health emergency response.

Shen Hongbing (right), director-general of the China CDC, and Dr. Youngmee Jee, commissioner of the KDCA, display the newly signed MOU on cooperation on Dec 4, 2023. [Photo/chinacdc.cn]

Delegates from China and South Korea celebrate the signing of the MOU on Dec 4, 2023. [Photo/chinacdc.cn]