On January 8, 2024, a goodwill delegation from the state of Utah in the United States visited PUMCH. The delegation included Michael O. Leavitt, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Stuart Adams, President of the Utah State Senate, and Michelle Kaufusi, mayor of Provo, Utah. PUMCH President Zhang Shuyang and Vice President Du Bin met with the delegation. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges regarding extensive cooperation in healthcare and other areas. Accompanying the visit were Li Sanghua, official at the deputy director general level at the Department of American & Oceanian Affairs, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Li Wenkai, Chief Representative at Beijing Office of the China Medical Board.

President Zhang Shuyang warmly welcomed the delegation. She expressed high appreciation for Mr. Leavitt’s active promotion of cooperation between China and the U.S. in various areas, including emerging infectious diseases, during his tenure as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. She had paid close attention to the outstanding contributions made by Dr. Brent James, Adjunct Professor at the School of Medicine and at the David Eccles School of Business, the University of Utah, in such areas as clinical quality improvement and patient safety.

President Zhang pointed out that over the past forty years of reform and opening up, PUMCH had steadily promoted practical cooperation with world-class medical schools and institutions and deepened high-level international exchanges, establishing a platform for high-quality international exchange and cooperation. Mr. Leavitt’s visit with the delegation has built a new bridge for communication and exchanges between PUMCH and the state of Utah, even the rest of the United States. President Zhang hoped that both sides would engage in extensive cooperation in healthcare and other fields and deepen the bond between people in the two countries.

During the meeting, Mr. Leavitt expressed heartfelt gratitude for the sincere and friendly reception extended to the delegation by PUMCH. He stated that the friendly cooperation and exchanges between China and the United States in healthcare spoke volumes about the friendly relations between the two countries. He echoed President Zhang’s hope that “old friends will continue to write new chapters in their book of friendship”.

▲Top left: discussions and exchanges; top right: visit of the PUMCH History Museum; bottom left: visit of the medical records exhibition; bottom right: visit of the Beijing Office of the China Medical Board

During the discussion session, the two sides explored topics such as medical education, talent development, and hospital management. The delegation also visited the PUMCH History Museum, the medical records exhibition, and the Beijing Office of the China Medical Board. They also touched on topics such as the historical origins of China-US healthcare cooperation and the development of disciplines at PUMCH.

Written by the Publicity Department and the International Cooperation Office

Photographed by Sun Liang

Edited by Xiao Xiong

Translated by Liu Haiyan

Reviewed by Wang Yao