Teh first Tunisia Forum for Sino-African Medical Advancement convened in Tunis today, November 22, 2025, bringing together health officials and experts from across the African continent and China. Co-hosted by Tunisia’s Ministry of Health and China’s National Health Commission, the two-day forum aims too deepen medical collaboration and strengthen public health systems amid growing healthcare needs [[1]]. Discussions will focus on areas including infectious disease control and maternal health, building on a partnership that began with China’s first medical mission to Tunisia in 1973 [[2]].
Xinhua News Agency | 22. 11.
2025
The first Tunisia Forum for Sino-African Medical Development opened Friday in the Tunisian capital, bringing together officials, medical experts, and business representatives from China and across the African continent.
Co-hosted by the Tunisian Ministry of Health and the National Health Commission of China, the two-day forum aims to strengthen cooperation in public health and deepen medical exchanges between China and African nations.
In a video address, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission of China, stated that China is prepared to collaborate with its African partners to bolster public health systems and expand cooperation in areas such as infectious disease control and maternal and child health.
Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani noted that the forum seeks to build an equitable Sino-African partnership, reflecting Tunisia’s vision of health as a fundamental human right.
He also highlighted Tunisia’s longstanding role as a bridge for Sino-African medical cooperation, dating back to the first Chinese medical mission in 1973. Ferjani described the forum as an unprecedented platform combining Tunisian expertise, Chinese scientific capabilities, and African ambitions for health development.
Hundreds of health professionals from China and more than a dozen African countries are participating in the event.
Tunis is hosting the inaugural Tunisia Forum for Sino-African Medical Development, a gathering aimed at bolstering healthcare cooperation between China and nations across Africa. The event, which began Friday, November 22, 2025, brings together a diverse group of officials, medical professionals, and industry leaders.
The forum, co-organized by the Tunisian Ministry of Health and China’s National Health Commission, is designed to foster stronger ties in public health initiatives and facilitate increased medical knowledge exchange. This collaboration comes as China continues to expand its healthcare diplomacy efforts throughout the continent.
Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission of China, delivered a video message outlining Beijing’s commitment to the partnership. “China is prepared to collaborate with its African partners to bolster public health systems,” he said, “and expand cooperation in areas such as infectious disease control and maternal and child health.”
Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani emphasized the forum’s goal of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship. He stated that the event reflects Tunisia’s belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right. Ferjani also highlighted Tunisia’s historical role in facilitating Sino-African medical cooperation, tracing it back to the first Chinese medical team dispatched to the country in 1973.
“This forum represents an unprecedented platform,” Ferjani explained, “combining Tunisian expertise, Chinese scientific capabilities, and African ambitions for health development.”
The event is drawing participation from hundreds of healthcare professionals originating from China and more than a dozen African countries. The forum underscores the growing importance of South-South cooperation in addressing global health challenges.
