Premier Li Keqiang called for more international cooperation in improving human health conditions, while addressing the opening ceremony of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai on Nov 21.

The Premier offered several proposals for future global efforts in health promotion. Health promotion is a crucial part of pushing ahead the UN 2030 sustainable development agenda, he said.

He emphasized building cooperative platforms to support the leading role of the World Health Organization (WHO), promote domestic legislation, and encourage developing countries’ participation.

The Premier highlighted building a global public health security risk prevention and control system, calling for efforts to improve global disease surveillance and emergency mechanism and training to deal with any public health emergency.

“The Chinese government supports WHO to set up emergency teams and funds, and calls on developed countries to assist developing countries in building their public health system,” he said.

Countries should advance joint research in health technology, and promote the use of technological results in controlling antibiotic resistance, advanced medical technology, and drug development for better health services, he added.

Premier Li also stressed the integrated development of traditional and modern medicines.

In the span of half a century, China has sent more than 20,000 medical workers to 67 countries and regions, offering medical treatment to over 260 million people, and will continue its efforts to help improve health conditions worldwide, he said.

During the past 30 years, average lifespan worldwide rose more than eight years, and maternal and infant mortality rates and the mortality rate for children under 5 dropped by half.