On November 10, Secretary General Li Baodong met with Xue Qingguo, member of the Standing Committee of Qingdao Municipal Committee of the CPC and executive vice mayor of Qingdao, and his delegation in Macau.

Secretary General Li Baodong welcomed Vice Mayor Xue to lead the delegation to join in the First Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) and pointed out that the Global Health Forum (GHF) held in Qingdao and ISTIF currently held in Macao are both thematic conferences under the framework of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). Li also expressed thanks to the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government of Qingdao for providing services and support to the First Conference of GHF. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Second Conference of GHF was postponed twice, and BFA, the Qingdao Municipal Government and the Organizing Committee of GHF made huge efforts to prepare the Second Conference.

Secretary General Li said that the First Conference of GHF last year was fruitful. The global outbreak of COVID-19 at the beginning of this year further demonstrated that the public health security is of great significance to economic development, people’s lives and social stability. It is becoming a global consensus to vigorously develop the health industry, improve national health, and protect people's lives.

Vice Mayor Xue Qingguo reported that after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Qingdao not long ago, the Qingdao Municipal Committee and Government took strong measures to swiftly control the pandemic, which was widely praised by the international community. The convening of the 1st GHF in Qingdao strengthened the awareness of public health among Qingdao governments at all levels and improved the health knowledge of Qingdao citizens.

The two sides also exchanged views on the specific preparations for the 2nd GHF.