On 22 October 2020, with the coordination and promotion of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the health departments of China and Myanmar held a medical experts virtual conference on combating COVID-19. The National Health Commission of China, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Commission of Yunnan Province shared experience on COVID-19 prevention and control with the Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar, answered the latter’s questions and discussed bilateral medical cooperation. Ms. Li Xiaoyan, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar attended the conference.

Ms. Zhang Yang, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the National Health Commission of China, said that this virtual conference was held at a critical time in the wake of the global fight against COVID-19. China and Myanmar are good neighbors, striving for a common mission in pandemic prevention and control, and promotion of economic growth and social development of the region. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Myanmar by continuously sharing information, coordinating policies and exchanging experience on pandemic prevention and control. This will help to improve our collective public health capacity and mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on the economy and society, so as to make positive contributions to promoting the health, safety and well-being of the two peoples.

U Thet Khaing Win, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar, expressed the Myanmar side’s appreciation for organizing the conference at such a crucial moment as Myanmar is fighting against COVID-19. The conference is of great significance for exchanging experience and strengthening Myanmar-China cooperation on combating COVID-19. The Myanmar government attaches great importance to the prevention and control of COVID-19 by adopting a series of strict prevention and control measures, and is currently focusing on combating the second wave of pandemic. As China has achieved positive results on combating COVID-19, Myanmar is willing to learn from China’s experience and join hands with China to defeat the pandemic in a swift and effective manner.

Minister Counselor Li Xiaoyan said that China and Myanmar are close neighbors connected by shared mountains and rivers, and the two peoples enjoy deep Pauk-Phaw friendship. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the two countries have been working together to fight against the virus, which fully reflects the Pauk-Phaw friendship and embodies the spirit of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future. We were willing to work together with Myanmar to implement the consensus reached by the leaders our two countries, by further strengthening cooperation based on what we have achieved, and continue to provide assistance to Myanmar in accordance with the latter’s needs.

Medical experts from China and Myanmar introduced the pandemic situations and anti-pandemic measures in their respective countries, and the two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on anti-pandemic measures and research progress of COVID-19 vaccine.