To discuss continuing collaboration between the Government of China and WHO in Egypt, an official meeting took place at the premises of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo on 19 March 2018. Dr John Jabbour, WHO Representative for Egypt, met with H.E. Mr Han Bing, the Chinese Ministerial Commercial Counsellor, for this purpose.  

The meeting was an opportunity to express WHO's gratitude to H.E Mr Han Bing for the support provided by the Government of China to Egypt by setting up an investment fund to: support the health of Syrian refugees in Egypt; sustain the provision of secondary care services at the hospital level to better respond to life threatening medical emergencies; and strengthen the provision of health services in public health facilities located in districts with a heavy density of Syrian refugees. China's support to Egypt has had a positive impact on both the health of Syrian refugees and the Egyptian host population in these areas.

In the presence of technical teams from the WHO country office and Embassy of China, several potential areas of collaboration were raised during the meeting focusing on national priorities such as social health insurance, hepatitis C and road safety issues.

Dr Jabbour, WHO Representative for Egypt, expressed WHO's appreciation of China's support and for ongoing collaboration particularly in the area of health system strengthening.