China, Russia to deepen cooperation in COVID-19 prevention, control

Wang Hesheng, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC) and head of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, held a video call on Nov 15 with Anna Popova, head of Russia's Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare, to exchange views on bilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wang spoke positively of China-Russia health collaboration, especially in infectious disease prevention and control. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Russia have worked in solidarity, he said. The health departments and institutions of disease prevention and control, as well as medical research, of the two countries have maintained communication and exchanges via multiple channels in relation to COVID-19 prevention and control and novel coronavirus detection, which has yielded fruitful results.

He said China is willing to deepen cooperation and communication with Russia in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases so as to contribute to the building of a global community of health for all.

Popova briefed the participants on the major responsibilities of Russia’s Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare and fully affirmed the current cooperative efforts in infectious disease prevention and control between the two countries.

She also expressed willingness to further strengthen contact between their counterparts in COVID-19 prevention and control to enhance bilateral collaboration and bring more benefits to the people of the two countries.

Officials from China's National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NHC and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention attended the meeting.