Hong Kong Scientist Association and China Affairs Administration of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization jointly launched a new chapter for Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development

Dr. YANG Xinxiang, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong

1.    The Belt and Road Hong Kong and Mainland of China Summit on Life and Health Sciences - the Launching Ceremony of the In-depth Cooperation Project

Hong Kong Scientist Association (HKSA) & China Affairs Administration of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Organization (BRICO) successfully held the "The Belt and Road Hong Kong and Mainland of China Summit on Life and Health Sciences" at the Zhaolin Grand Hotel in Beijing on May 14, 2024. At this high-level summit, the two sides formally signed the "Belt and Road Life and Health Technology In-depth Cooperation Project Agreement", which outlined the content of the cooperation projects. This event was fully supported by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

HKSA & BRICO Speakers and Guests:(From left) Dr Wang Biao, Sirnaomics Ltd; Dr Liu Jiang, HKU; Professor Li Xianliang, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital; Professor Xu Aimin, HKU; Professor Chen Zhiwei, HKU; Professor Gao Xing, Deputy Secretary-General of BRICO; Professor Man Kwan, HKU; Ms. Zhang Ji, the China-Japan Friendship Association for International Exchanges; Professor Guan Xinyuan, HKU; Professor Zhang Zhangjin, HKU; Professor Sheng Chunhua, Changchun Cancer Hospital; Dr Yang Xinxiang, HKU.

Professor Man Kwan, President of the HKSA, and Professor Gao Xing, Deputy Secretary-General of the BRICO, delivered opening speeches respectively. Professor Man emphasized that Hong Kong is a city with a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem, which is important for developing Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub for life and health technology. She proposed the development concept of "talent-based and cooperation-based mode", and drew a development blueprint for establishing five major life and health technology innovation and technology centers in Hong Kong. Professor Gao further emphasized the importance of cooperation with a "bottom-up" approach and looked forward to the common development prospects of both sides in the field of life and health technology.

Professor Man Kwan, President of the HKSA (left), and Professor Gao Xing, Deputy Secretary-General of the BRICO (right), delivered speeches at the opening ceremony

Professor Man Kwan introduced the five cooperation projects proposed by HKSA

At the subsequent launch ceremony of the cooperation project, Professor Man and Professor Gao signed the "Belt and Road Life Science and Technology Deep Cooperation Project Cooperation Agreement". HKSA scientists, hospital leaders, and corporate representatives attended the signing ceremony as witnesses. The core contents of the cooperation agreement include:
1)    Establishment of the Belt and Road international innovation and technology center in Hong Kong, including the “International Organ Transplantation Innovation Center”, the “Cancer Precision Medicine and Rehabilitation Innovation Center”, the “Disease Control and Prevention Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases”, the “Metabolic Chronic Disease Biomedical Technology R&D Center”, and the “Traditional Medicine R&D Center”.
2)    Establishment of the Belt and Road Liaison Office in Hong Kong, to promote, facilitate, coordinate, and safeguard the smooth development of cooperation projects in Hong Kong.
3)    Establishment of the life and health service industry transformation and development base in Mainland of China, to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Professor Man Kwan and Professor Gao Xing signed the cooperation agreement

Speakers from HKSA delivered keynote speeches: (first row, from left) Professor Man Kwan, Professor Xu Aimin, and Professor Guan Xinyuan; (second row, from left) Professor Chen Zhiwei, Professor Zhang Zhangjin, and Dr Wang Biao 

Professor Man and Professor Gao finally pointed out that this summit is a milestone in the cooperation between the two sides, as a concrete practice after they signed the framework cooperation agreement in Hong Kong in December 2023. Through the signing of this in-depth cooperation agreement, the two sides will jointly promote the development of life and health science and technology with the support of the Belt and Road policy and funds. They are full of confidence in future cooperation.

Group Photo of all Speakers and Guests

2.    The Signing Ceremony for the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between HKSA and Beijing Mingdao Clinic

HSKA delegation was invited by Beijing Mingdao Zhongyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and visited Beijing Mingdao Clinic, located in Yizhuang, Beijing. It is the first clinical center for immune health management in China, providing immune health management for patients and the sub-healthy population. The founder is Professor Li Xianliang from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. He has developed a quantitative immune assessment for active health management.

HKSA took a group photo with the Beijing Mingdao Clinic

HKSA delegation visited the medical equipment and facilities of the Mingdao Clinic and had in-depth exchanges and discussions with Professor Li's team. During the visit, Professor Li not only introduced the operation mode of the medical clinic in detail but also gave an in-depth explanation of how to integrate the concept of immune health management with the health management service process. He introduced that Beijing Mingdao Zhongyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has an immune laboratory (scientific research), GMP workstation (production) and cancer treatment center (medical). 

Professor Li Xianliang led the HKSA delegation to visit the Mingdao Clinic

Subsequently, the two parties discussed the plan for the construction of an immune health technology research and transformation platform. Under the principle of "complementary advantages, mutual benefit and win-win, high effectiveness, and innovative development", a cooperation intention agreement was reached. Professor Man Kwan, President of HKSA, and Ms. Zhang Jihong, President of Mingdao Clinic, signed the "Hong Kong Immunity Health Center Project Framework Agreement" on behalf of both sides. 

Professor Man Kwan, President of HKSA, and Ms. Zhang Jihong, President of Mingdao Clinic, signed the cooperation agreement

The visit to Mingdao Clinic and the signing of the cooperation agreement established a friendly relationship between the HKSA and Beijing Mingdao Clinic, building a bridge for in-depth cooperation between science and clinical medicine. HKSA delegation looks forward to long-term close cooperation between the two sides in the development of immune health management.

3.    The Signing Ceremony for the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between HKSA and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital

HKSA delegation, led by Professor Man Kwan and Professor Gao Xing, visited Beijing Chaoyang Hospital on May 15, 2024. HKSA delegation visited the hospital's outpatient department, administrative building, and other construction facilities. During the visit, Professor Li Xianliang introduced in detail the medical services, advanced equipment and clinical research achievements of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. Subsequently, the HKSA delegation and the hospital leaders held the strategic cooperation signing ceremony. Professor Man emphasized that this visit was not only an opportunity for academic exchange, but also a friendly start of cooperation between the two sides. Professor Gao Xing pointed out the important role of international cooperation in promoting the advancement of medical technology in hospitals. Professor Li Xianliang further introduced the latest progress and plans for the development of organ transplantation in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital.

The launching ceremony of the Belt and Road International Organ Transplantation Cooperation Project between HKSA and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital

After a friendly and fruitful discussion, Professor Man Kwan and Professor Ji Zhili, Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, jointly signed the "Hong Kong-Chaoyang Cooperation Framework Agreement on the Belt and Road International Organ Transplantation Cooperation Project" on behalf of both sides.

Professor Man Kwan, President of HKSA, and Professor Ji Zhili, Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, signed the cooperation agreement