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Working visit to China
Three months after Li Bin’s invitation in Geneva, Alain Berset spends four days in Beijing and Shanghai, with State Councillors Carlo Conti (Basel-Stadt), President of the GDK, and Pierre-François Unger (Geneva), whose cantons have partnerships with Chinese hospitals, and a medical technology delegation. On 15 August, at Peking University, he opens a conference on infectious diseases and vaccination.
On the 16th, he holds talks with Vice-Minister Yin Li of the China Food and Drug Administration, created in March: an agreement on food and medicine safety is envisaged. At the Ministry of Culture, he holds talks with Vice-Minister Ding Wei, then signs the bilateral agreement on cultural property, against illicit trafficking. Talks also cover a social security agreement under negotiation, useful for Swiss nationals posted to China.
On the 17th, he speaks at the opening of the Chinese Health Forum, then meets Li Bin: communicable and non-communicable diseases, health workforce, the Chinese reform launched in 2009, Health2020. In Shanghai, on the 18th, he visits Shanghai East Hospital, the Pro Helvetia office and galleries, and meets artists, curators and museum directors.
Thursday 15 August 2013 — Beijing
- Lunch debate with experts on infectious diseases and vaccination, Peking University
- Opening of the conference “Infectious Disease and Vaccination”, address
- Lecture at the medical school’s global health diplomacy course
- Visit to the Urs Meile gallery and meeting with artists
Friday 16 August 2013 — Beijing
- Talks with Vice-Minister Yin Li, China Food and Drug Administration
- Talks with the Vice-Minister of Human Resources and Social Security
- Talks with Vice-Minister of Culture Ding Wei
- Signing of the agreement on the protection of cultural property
- Reception for the Swiss community at the residence of Ambassador Jacques de Watteville, address
Saturday 17 August 2013 — Beijing and Shanghai
- Address at the opening of the Chinese Health Forum
- Talks with Li Bin, Minister of Health
- Press briefing
Sunday 18 August 2013 — Shanghai
- Visit to Shanghai East Hospital
- Visit to the exhibition “Portrait of the Times – 30 Years of Chinese Contemporary Art” at the Power Station of Art, round table with artists, curators and museum and festival directors
- Visit to galleries and artists’ studios at Moganshan
- Meeting with representatives of the medical technology sector and of the Swiss community, address
Sources