China Should Play More Active Role In Global Health

The Diplomat: Why China Could be a Game Changer for Global Health
Charlotte Röhren, graduate student in international relations in Berlin and Potsdam

“…[C]ompared to China’s international economic and political weight, as well as to the relevance of the health issues at stake, China is not sufficiently engaged in multilateral global health governance. … As host country for the G20 Summit in Hangzhou last year, China missed the opportunity to prioritize global health issues. … It is in China’s own interest to engage in these discussions and related initiatives. The Chinese representative to the G20 Health Working Group will need a strong mandate to participate in global health initiatives. Beijing can also send a strong signal by scaling up its financial and technical contributions to the WHO and other U.N. organizations dealing with global health issues. China has a lot to gain from taking a more active role. Not only would its own population benefit from improving the safety net against global health threats, but China could also reap economic and reputational benefits from more engagement. … Due to China’s size and relevance, Beijing’s increased engagement could be a game changer for global health” (4/22).

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