Fostering greater common understanding and cooperation
OTTAWA, April 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, Regional Minister for Northern Alberta and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, will be in Beijing this week to advance collaboration on key health issues of mutual interest to Canada and China. The Minister will also underscore Canada's priority to diversify its export markets for energy and underline Canada's potential as a responsible and reliable provider of energy to China.
The focus of Minister Ambrose's visit is the fourth Canada-China Policy Dialogue (CCPD) — an important vehicle for exchanging information and best practices in key areas of health. This year, the CCPD will cover infectious disease prevention and control, healthy ageing, and health systems. The Honourable Fred Horne, Minister of Health for Alberta, and co-chair of the Council of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health, will accompany the Minister to provide a provincial perspective to discussions.
Minister Ambrose will meet with health officials and experts to build understanding of each country's key health initiatives and systems, strengthen bilateral relations with key health institutions, and signal Canada's continued commitment to collaboration. Meetings and site visits will include:
- Minister LI Bin, National Health and Family Planning Commission, to exchange information on health priorities, discuss health innovation and showcase Canadian best practices;
- Minister ZHANG Yong, China Food and Drug Administration on food safety governance and modernization;
- Dr. WANG Yu, Director, China Centre for Disease Control, to discuss disease prevention and control, public health surveillance, and emergency preparedness and response;
- Minister ZHI Shuping, Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, to review progress and ongoing collaboration on issues in food and consumer product safety, as well as animal and plant health;
- Guang An Men Hospital to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese medicine; and
- Peking University Health Science Center to discuss innovation in health, showcase some of Canada's key initiatives and open the door to future Canada-China joint development in this field.
This trip is also an opportunity for Minister Ambrose to discuss Canada's open, market-based approach to foreign investment with China — a business environment that includes the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment in the G-7.
Quick Facts
- Canada has a long-standing comprehensive relationship with the People's Republic of China. The Canada-China Joint Statement, issued in December 2009, serves as a roadmap for the Canada-China bilateral relationship in four priority areas: governance (human rights, rule of law), trade and investment, energy and environment, and health (public health and pandemics).
- A Ministerial-level Canada-China Policy Dialogue (CCPD) is held every two years to share information on health policy issues and foster greater understanding of each country's respective health systems. Canada and China alternate hosting the CCPD. This is the 4th CCPD. Canada will host the next in 2016.
- Canada has been successful in securing eight approved liquid natural gas (LNG) export licenses due to the Government of Canada's and industries sustained efforts to advance Canada's LNG export capacity.
Quotes
"Canada and China have a long-standing cooperative relationship, with many common interests in health and energy. I look forward to continuing this tradition of sharing information and fostering greater understanding of each country's respective challenges, priorities and opportunities for collaboration."
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health, Regional Minister for Northern Alberta and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove
"I am pleased to represent Alberta and join federal Health Minister Ambrose at this meeting. I look forward to working with my counterparts to improve healthcare for all Canadians. By working together with federal and international partners we are finding ways to deliver quality healthcare and better patient outcomes."
The Honourable Fred Horne
Minister of Health for Alberta
SOURCE: Public Health Agency of Canada
Associated Links
Canada-China bilateral relations
Canada-China health cooperation
Western Economic Diversification Canada website
Contacts
Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 957-2983
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