Saima’s nomination will boost Bangladesh-China health cooperation: Ambassador

Dhaka, November 7, 2023 (BASS): As the next Regional Director of WHO for Southeast Asia, Dr. Congratulating Saima Wazed, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today said it will enhance health cooperation between Beijing and Dhaka.
Yao Wen said, ‘Her (Saima) nomination has also opened up new channels and opportunities to enhance cooperation between China and Bangladesh in the health sector.’
The Ambassador said that the nomination of Saima Wazed as the next Regional Director of WHO for South-East Asia is another contribution of Bangladesh in protecting the health of all humanity.
The ambassador made this comment at the handover ceremony of anti-dengue emergency supplies from China.
Saima Wazed, a global mental health expert and daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, won the election among the region’s 11 member states.
His name will now be submitted for appointment to the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board. The session will be held on January 22-27, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Chinese ambassador said that the strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Bangladesh has deepened in recent years.
He said, ‘China has become an important partner for Bangladesh in terms of economic development and beyond.’
The ambassador said that under the joint guidance of the leadership of the two countries, Bangladesh and China must make joint efforts and fight side by side to win the war against the dengue epidemic, which will protect the lives and health of the people of the two countries.
He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally announced during his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Johannesburg, South Africa at the end of August this year that China will provide 25 million RMB aid to Bangladesh to combat dengue.
Since then, the relevant authorities of the two governments have maintained close contact and cooperated effectively to ensure prompt delivery and timely use of anti-dengue emergency supplies from China.
The Ambassador said, “Today’s handover ceremony is not only the realization of the consensus reached between the two leaders, but it is another manifestation that China and Bangladesh are true friends, who are close neighbors through thick and thin and always help each other.”
The ambassador said that in the last three years, China and Bangladesh have joined hands to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.
He said, ‘At the beginning of this year, we signed an implementation agreement for the China-aid project for the burn unit of the Chittagong Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh.’
The ambassador said that a team of top medical experts from China came to Bangladesh with advanced clinical technology and knowledge and successfully operated on four patients with congenital heart disease.
He also said, ‘In the future, China will continue to increase cooperation in the health sector with Bangladesh and bring more tangible benefits to the people of the two countries.’
Health Minister Zahid Malek, Health Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam and Director General of DGHS Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam and others were present.