The World Health Organization has launched the WHO-China Country Cooperation Strategy 2008-2013, the first-ever to be signed jointly by WHO and the Chinese government.
The strategy outlines a medium-term framework for cooperation between WHO and China to improve national health development. The joint signing of the strategy represents both the strengthening of this important partnership as well as the shared commitment to advance health outcomes in the country.
The strategy is rooted in national health priorities, goals and strategies, as well as WHO and international frameworks. Specifically, the fundamental basis for the CCS agenda is China's main health goal of ensuring universal access to basic health care by 2020, the strategic objectives of WHO's Medium-Term Strategic Plan and the UN Millennium Development Goals.
At its core, WHO and China cooperation aims to strengthen the national health care system to meet the needs of its people, and ensure that all Chinese citizens have access to essential healthcare, especially the most disadvantaged and those living in rural and remote areas.