MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF RWANDA AND MINISTER OF HEALTH OF RWANDA (PROF. WU XIFENG: FOURTH FROM THE LEFT; PROF. JIANG JUN: THIRD FROM THE RIGHT)

Invited by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, Prof. WU Xifeng, SAHZU Vice President and Dean of School of Public Health Zhejiang University, and Prof. JIANG Jun, Executive Vice Chair of SAHZU Cardiology, visited Rwanda from August 5 to 9, with other Zhejiang University delegates. 

During the visit, they were received by President of Rwanda Mr. Paul Kagame and had meetings with several high-level officials, including Ambassador WANG Xuekun of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, Minister of Health of Rwanda Prof. Sabin Nsanzimana, Minister of Education of Rwanda Mr. Gaspard Twagirayezu, President of the Global Health Equity University (UGHE) and President of the World Bank Professor Jim Yong Kim, etc., to discuss potential collaborations.  

Prof. WU Xifeng and Prof. JIANG Jun were invited to attend the Global Health Partnerships in Medical Education, Research, and Innovation, a seminar co-hosted by the University of Rwanda and UGHE on August 8. Prof. WU delivered a keynote speech entitled Digital Intelligence Empowered New Journey of Health Science at the seminar, and had in-depth exchanges and communications with Rwandan colleagues, actively responding to their concerns and questions about big data in medicine and biobanking technology.

Prof. WU and Prof. JIANG were also offered chances to have tours in the University of Rwanda and the Global Health Equity University, and visited the Masaka Hospital and medical facilities built with Chinese assistance, the IRCAD Africa -  The African Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery, the Butaro District Hospital, and the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence, the first comprehensive cancer center in East Africa.

Multiple discussions were organized between both sides on cooperation in medical big data, biobanks, and medical education. Chinese and Rwandan healthcare professionals look forward to more substantive cooperation in the future, jointly promoting the progress and development of the medical science and healthcare services.