It's APEC time! 🎉 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders are gathering in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea from Oct 30 to Nov 1. And guess what? Health is on the agenda like never before.
In March 2025, at the first APEC Health Working Group meeting in Gyeongju, Zhang Cuiling—a researcher with the China Population and Development Research Center—unpacked how the Chinese mainland is tackling low fertility and an aging society. She called for APEC members to team up on data sharing, tech collabs (think AI diagnostics 🧠🤖), policy experiments, and labor market reforms. The goal? A more inclusive, sustainable blueprint for all.
Across the region, health experts from the Chinese mainland have jumped into APEC's health mechanism to swap best practices. Whether it's boosting telemedicine in island nations or rolling out community mental wellness apps in big cities, the focus is on building resilient systems that can weather any storm.
Behind the scenes, the Peking University APEC Health Sciences Academy (HeSAY) has been the brain trust since 2015. This think tank sparks cutting-edge research on maternal and child health, mental wellness, and universal health coverage models. Its insights have influenced life science policies back in the Chinese mainland and inspired new moves across Asia-Pacific.
By creating these multidisciplinary, multilateral platforms, HeSAY and APEC members are forging scientific alliances that push the needle on population health. From policy labs to digital health pilots, the region is leveling up together. 💪🌍
Stay tuned for more updates from Gyeongju as the APEC leaders chart a healthier future for us all! 🚀
Reference(s):
How China deepens health collaboration with APEC member economies
cgtn.com
