Geneva, Switzerland — Dr. Joe Thomas, the Executive Director of Partners in population and Development (PPD) met with H.E. Dr. Wang Guoqiang, Honourable Vice Minister National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (NHFPC) and Commissioner of SATCM and MCH. H.E. Dr. Li Bin Honourable Minister of National Population and Family Planning Commission of China (NPFPC), Government of the People’s Republic of China is the Vice-Chair, PPD Board. The meeting was held on 22 May 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland on the side-line of the 67th World Health Assembly.
From The left Dr. Joe Thomas, Executive Director of PPD; H.E. Dr. Wang Guoqiang, Honourable Vice Minister NHFPC and Ambassador Dr. Denis Broun, PPD permanent representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva
During the meeting H.E. Dr. Wang Guoqiang reiterated the commitment of the Government of China to PPD, and will continue to support PPD. China place great importance to PPD and an important member of PPD. PPD is the only inter-governmental organization of the global south which represents the interest of more than 60% of the global population. Despite on-going demographic shift, population dynamics is an important population phenomenon which requires coordinated effort to ensure desirable development impact.
Dr. Thomas thanked the Government of China for its continued support to PPD and updated H.E. Dr. Wang Guoqiang, on the progress of preparation for next PPD Executive Committee/ Board and PPD annual International Inter ministerial conference on Population and Development, and sought advice and guidance on the agenda for the Board & Executive committee meeting.
During the meeting Dr. Thomas explore the possibility of renewing the partnership between PPD and the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China on some of the significant initiatives such as; a) Donation of Reproductive Health and Family Planning Commodities to Developing Countries.; b) Support to Institutional Development for Reproductive Health Service Delivery Facilities in Developing Countries; c) Capacity Building of Developing Countries through Training on Population and Development.
Dr. Thomas acknowledged with gratitude and sincerely thanked the National Population and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China on the outcome of these Memorandum of Understanding between The National Population and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China and the Partners in Population and Development.
Several developing countries, particularly PPD member countries, immensely benefitted from the implementation of the above-mentioned MOUs which were greatly acknowledged and lauded at the PPD Board Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting and Inter-Ministerial Conferences and all concerned expressed the desire that this important collaboration are continued.
Dr. Ren Ming-Hui, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, NHFPC of the People’s Republic of China, and Ambassador Dr. Denis Broun, PPD permanent representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva also attended the meeting.