On the morning of June 2, the second Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia held its opening press conference in Qingdao Cosmopolitan Exposition. Li Baodong, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, Margaret Chan, President of Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia, and Sun Jiye, Vice Governor of Shandong Province introduced the preparations for the conference to Chinese and foreign media and answer questions. Xue Qingguo, Deputy Mayor of Qingdao presided over the meeting.

Li Baodong said, there are two important backgrounds for this conference. First, the Covid-19 is still globally spreading, posing huge challenges to global economic and social development; second, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the stablishment of the Boao Forum for Asia. All parties generally look forward to the Forum’s role as a platform, build consensus among nations, and promote the international community’s response to global challenges. In such context, the 2nd Conference of Global Health Forum attracts special attention.

Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic is still raging around the world, and the number of infected cases and deaths is still alarmingly climbing. People's lives and safety are seriously threatened, economic and social development is seriously disrupted, and the number of people living in poverty worldwide has increased significantly. Against this complex and grim backdrop, it is more important and urgent than ever to strengthen global governance, adhere to multilateralism and promote international cooperation. Not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia 2021 and the Global Health Summit, calling for strengthening global public health governance and building a global community of health for all together. President Xi's initiative was widely appreciated and supported by the representatives of the participating countries, and has also become the purpose and direction of the Global Health Forum.

Margaret Chan said that the 2nd Conference closely followed the current situation of the pandemic prevention and control, and the status quo of global health. Focusing on topics such as "Agreeing to Fight Covid-19 Together and Bridging the Gap Immunity", "Adhering to the Concept of Scientific Policy Implementation and Promoting Industrial Innovation and Development", "Health Beyond Health, Promoting Sustainable Development", "Universal Health Coverage, Health For All", etc., the conference designed 1 opening ceremony, 2 plenary meetings, more than 30 sub-forums as well as over ten events including the Global Health Expo, entrepreneurs’ symposiums, luncheons, welcome banquets, closed-door meetings, salons and project promotions, etc. Global Health Forum will continue to play the role of a platform to consolidate the consensus of unity against the epidemic, promote scientific response to the epidemic and help improve the governance system.

Sun Jiye said that Covid-19, the most serious global infectious disease pandemic in a century, made us feel more truly that humanity is indeed a community of common future. This year's Global Health Forum held in such a special context, had greater relevance. We hope that with this Conference, more people will have a deeper understanding of health for all and international cooperation, and contribute to building a global community of health for all.

The 4-day conference was held in a mixed mode of online and offline, with more than 2,880 guests from 40 countries and regions attending the conference. Li Bin, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, Chief Chinese Representative and Vice Chairman of Global Health Forum, will address at the forum on site. Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Toshihiro Nikai, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of Council of Advisors of Boao Forum for Asia and former Prime Minister of Japan, Dame Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, will also deliver speeches at the opening ceremony.

Seven health ministers, including Anutin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Thailand, Chris Fein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Malta, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare of Korea, Ildikó Horvath, State Secretary for Health of Hungary, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health of Indonesia, Francisco Duque III, Minister of Health of the Philippines, Dr. Adham, Minister of Health of Malaysia, representatives and experts from 23 international organizations including the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, OECD, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Committee of the Red Cross, Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will attend the two plenary sessions and sub-forums. Eight academicians, including Li Lanjuan and Wang Chen, and more than 400 experts and scholars, including Zhang Dingyu and Zhang Wenhong, will participate in the discussions.

The conference received strong support from Chinese departments such as the National Health Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the National Medical Security Administration, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Nation Medical Products Administration, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, China Disabled Persons' Federation and the All-China Women's Federation. More than 10 local provincial and municipal delegations from Shandong, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan, Hebei and Shanxi attended the conference.