China's unique role in the field of global health

Abstract

China's participation in global governance, inspired by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is driven by the guiding principle of "building a community of shared future for mankind". China has been promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South Cooperation and has made significant contributions to the prosperity of human beings. Along with the opportunities that globalization brought about such as the World Health Organization and the boom in the economy, global health challenges also emerged. This resulted in certain obstacles for China when it sought to advocate the Belt and Road Initiative and when it attempted to carry out its strategy to address global health issues. What are the emerging challenges for global health? What can China do for global health? Why does global health need China? We tried to address these questions as China's global engagement continues to expand in the new era. This article makes the case for Chinese approaches, including getting involved in public health, being consistent in addressing local conditions, sharing China's experience with handling health services, and strengthening government-led action while being guided by relative policies. China has a lot to offer in the promotion of global health and in overcoming the challenges and risks that this goal currently faces. Thus, China should be considered an inseparable part of global health governance and bilateral health development cooperation.

Politics of disease control in Africa and the critical role of global health diplomacy: A systematic review

“…In 2015, the China-Africa Cooperation assured- “going forward hand in hand, cooperating with a win-win strategy, and developing with each other”—and pledged to provide USD 60 billion to support ten major cooperation plans across Africa. 47 Moreover, the China-Africa health cooperation has supported the global health agenda on prevention, control, and elimination of some infectious diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, Ebola, TB, HIV/AIDS and NTDs. China’s health diplomacy also emphasized (1) the significance of health financing in establishing health development commitment, (2) investment in improving the gains and opportunities, and 93) value health priorities and planning.…”

Programmatic action in Chinese health policy—The making and design of “Healthy China 2030”

“…As part of its commitment, China developed its national strategic health plan HC2030 as a measure to implement and promote the realizations of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 3 "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages" (United Nations, 2021). Although China successfully used only 5% of the world's health resources to meet the health demands of 20% of the world's population, China still faces many persistent and new emerging challenges in health promotion (Cheng & Cheng, 2019). While still dealing with infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, and HIV/AIDS, China faces a remarkably severe threat from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).…”

“…Although China successfully used only 5% of the world's health resources to meet the health demands of 20% of the world's population, China still faces many persistent and new emerging challenges in health promotion (Cheng & Cheng, 2019). While still dealing with infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, and HIV/AIDS, China faces a remarkably severe threat from non‐communicable diseases (NCDs).…”

Deployment of workforce in global health: what should be the priorities for China?

“…One of the aims of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” was to improve the health of the populations of the countries alongside [ 2 ]. As part of its commitment to the South-South Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the China-Africa Public Health Cooperation during his visit to Africa in December 2015 [ 3 ]. Since 1963, China has built more than 100 health facilities with an estimated 23,000 global health workers dispatched overseas [ 2 ].…”