XI’AN, CHINA, Sept. 18 (ChinaMil) — The Asia Pacific Military Health Exchange (APMHE) 2018, which is co-hosted by the Chinese and US militaries, opened in Xi’an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on September 17, 2018. This is the first time that the Chinese and US militaries jointly hold such conference in China.
More than 500 representatives from 28 countries as well as 3 international organizations including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will participate in the conference and exchange views on the conference theme—“Challenges and Solutions: Strengthening Global Health”.
During the five-day conference from Sept. 17 to 21, about 200 academic meetings will be held on topics under six tracks, namely support operations for major missions, rising challenges posed to military medicine, total force health, performance optimization in medical services, preventive medicine, and service component exchanges, according to the official website of the 2018 APMHE ( http://www.2018apmhe.cn/english/ )
Meanwhile, the conference will offer a number of bilateral meetings, health ministerial forums, and round table talks on topics of support operations in UN peacekeeping operations and traditional medicine. The 2018 APMHE will also display the new medical equipment of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
At the opening ceremony, Major General Li Qingjie, vice director of the Logistic Support Department under China's Central Military Commission (CMC), delivered a keynote speech, stressing that military medical service forces of all countries should work together to safeguard the UN peacekeeping operations, strengthen cooperation and exchanges, and jointly promote the Asia-Pacific and global health governance.
A US official thanked China for meticulously organizing the 2018 APMHE in his speech at the opening ceremony and expressed confidence that the conference would be a complete success. The US side is willing to cooperate more closely with militaries of other countries in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain health, security, and stability, the official added.
General Song Puxuan, director of the Logistic Support Department under China's CMC, met with the heads of foreign delegations before the opening ceremony. He said that China is willing to strengthen exchanges with militaries of other Asia-Pacific countries in the field of logistics, conduct extensive practical cooperation, learn from each other, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, so as to promote the construction and development of each country’s military medical service.