IRNA – Iran is participating in Belt and Road High Level Meeting for Health Cooperation in China's capital city.

Iran's Health Minister's advisor Davood Danesh Jafari, Head of Pasteur Institute of Iran Mostafa Qanei and Hooman Kaghazian from Biotechnology Development Department of Iran's Vice Presidency for Science and Technology are participating in the international forum.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013, intends to build a network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road route to seek common development and prosperity.

The forum is aimed at facilitating talks among countries on the issues related to the health and safety of the Silk Road, pharmaceutical affairs and cooperation between Health Ministries of different countries.

The meetings which is underway on August 18 and 19, are attended by ministers and senior officials from health sectors of some 30 countries, including some international health organizations.

The participants will discusse challenges and opportunities of health cooperation as well as ways to advance the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals and its relation with the Silk Road.

China has implemented at least 41 health plans in cooperation with countries of the region since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. The ongoing conference will also add to the coordination of approaches of the countries involved in the project.

A number of the countries participating in the conference are expected to sign some cooperation agreements on security and innovation in health sector.

China Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission Li Bin at the opening ceremony of the forum said that the meetings are a good opportunity for countries and international organization to share experience on health and medicine.

Implementng peaceful plans, expanding ties on health issues, innovation and advancement are the main goals of the conference, she added.