Vice-Premier Wu Yi, also China's minister of health, said in Beijing Tuesday that the nation will further enhance medical aid to developing nations and improve its health care partnerships with them.

Wu made the remarks during a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of China's overseas medical programmes.

In 1963, China sent its first medical team abroad to Algeria, when it was amid a hard struggle to tackle its own financial and economic problems.

After more than 20 years of economic reform, China has improved its economy greatly.

"But our friendship with developing nations and sense of international responsibility won't change,'' Wu said. She asked Chinese health and financial departments to attach great importance to working with the foreign medical aid service and further improving relevant polices to ensure the smooth operation of the programme.

Gao Qiang, executive vice-minister of health, said that China has sent over 18,000 medical workers on overseas aid programmes during the past four decades, covering 65 countries and regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Oceania.

"Six hundred and thirteen Chinese medical staff have been awarded honours by the countries they worked in, and 45 members laid down their lives at their posts,'' Gao said.

He said that China currently has 42 medical teams with about 1,100 staff working overseas in 40 foreign countries.

In all, 30 medical teams and 100 team members were honoured at the ceremony for their superb performances by the ministries of health, foreign Affairs and commerce.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+US opposes any referendum toward Taiwan independence ( 2003-12-02) +Foreign banks get green light ( 2003-12-01) +Contaminated blood makes 54 AIDS patients ( 2003-12-02) +Quake survivors battling low temperature in Xinjiang ( 2003-12-02) +China sets growth target of 7% for 2004 ( 2003-12-02)		+Medical aid to be increased to developing countries ( 2003-12-03) +US urged to strictly adhere to commitment on Taiwan ( 2003-12-03) +Quake survivors in desperate need ( 2003-12-03) +Entrepreneurs gain political status ( 2003-12-03) +Quake survivors battling low temperature in Xinjiang ( 2003-12-02)