The 6th World Health Forum, hosted by Tsinghua University, commenced in Beijing on October 24. Chen Baosheng, standing member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of its Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports, attended the opening ceremony. Opening remarks were delivered by Shen Hongbing, vice-minister of the National Health Commission, administrator of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Yang Bin, vice chairman of the Tsinghua University Council; Saia Ma’u Piukala, World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for the Western Pacific; Margaret Chan, dean of Vanke School of Public Health (VSPH) and former director-general of WHO; Harvey V. Fineberg, chair of the China Medical Board's (CMB) Board of Trustees and professor emeritus at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Health Forum

Shen Hongbing said advancing healthy aging is an important task in building a Healthy China. He called for prioritizing health, strengthening key capabilities, improving prevention-focused health services throughout the life course, and deepening innovation and cooperation so that the benefits of healthy aging reach people more equitably and widely.

Yang Bin said the science of aging is an important direction for disciplinary development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Tsinghua University should draw on its multidisciplinary strengths to advance related research and practice, support China’s national strategy for addressing population aging, and contribute its expertise to building a Healthy China.

Saia Ma’u Piukala said healthy aging requires prevention from early in life. He expressed the hope that participants would harness technological and service innovation to turn their exchanges into new partnerships and concrete action.

Margaret Chan said VSPH would continue to draw on its interdisciplinary strengths to connect research with policy, strengthen public health professional training, and promote sustained cooperation through the Forum to help build a society that supports longer, healthier lives.

Harvey V. Fineberg said countries should learn from one another and develop care services and age-friendly environments so that more people can share equitably in the benefits of healthy longevity.

Tom Frieden said strengthening the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases is an important way to promote healthy longevity. Public health interventions and primary health care should be used to reduce disease and disability.

Nearly 300 experts and scholars, representatives of health authorities and disease control agencies, representatives of international organizations, and young faculty and students from 14 countries and regions gathered to discuss policies and practices for healthy aging and explore sustainable pathways towards a society that supports longer, healthier lives.

The Forum featured three plenary sessions, a youth forum and a fireside chat. Discussions covered the vision and global action for healthy longevity, health across the life course, innovation and development for longevity societies, and the use of artificial intelligence to create age-friendly environments.

Opening Ceremony guests assemble for a group photo

Editors: Li Han, John Paul Grima