Honourable Health Ministers
Ms Li Bin (China)
Mr Yasuhisa Shiozaki (Japan)
Mr Chung Chin-youb (Republic of Korea);
Distinguished delegates;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Congratulations on this successful 8th Tripartite Health Ministers Meeting.
I appreciate the role given to WHO as an observer in this important event.
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are among our most prominent Member States. They are leaders in regional health and important contributors to global health.
I congratulate China on its recently announced 13th Five-Year Plan. The Healthy China initiative will play a key role in the development plan for 2016-2020.
I also congratulate Japan's launch of The Japan Vision: Health Care 2035. The strategy highlights the country's commitment to lead in global health.
In addition, I compliment the Republic of Korea for hosting the Global Health Security Agenda meeting in September. Their commitment to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response in the wake of MERS has been commendable.
I commend all three countries for their tremendous support – both financial and human resources given directly and through WHO — for countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.
The outbreak is now at an end, but the lessons live on. Ebola tested our system of international preparedness and response.
WHO has committed to develop capacity to manage all phases of outbreaks and emergencies. This will soon produce concrete changes in WHO's mission and structure.
The MERS outbreak earlier this year reminded us that vulnerability is universal. Even a sophisticated health system with high capacity can be caught off guard.
WHO worked closely with the Korean Government — establishing a joint-assessment team at an early stage to support outbreak control.
WHO commends the Government's mobilization of the whole of society to quickly contain the global health threat.
Health security is our highest priority, to ensure that we are prepared for the next outbreak.
This year was historic for health and development. The United Nations turned 70 – and celebrated its birthday by launching the Sustainable Development Goals.
The SDGs are far more ambitious than the Millennium Development Goals, which finished this year.
Within the 17 SDGs, health-related topics have been greatly expanded.
At the same time, UHC is a foundation to support the achievement of other health-related SDGs — which makes the commitment to UHC more important than ever.
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have each taken different paths towards the achievement of UHC. Their experiences and leadership will surely help guide other Member States.
NCDs continue to be high priority, especially since the 2011 high-level UN General Assembly meeting on NCDs. As the lead agency in coordinating global health, WHO has assisted Member States to strengthen NCD programmes.
In China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the transition to an ageing society is advanced. These lessons you have learnt can assist other countries in addressing the needs of older people.
Thank you again for this opportunity to share my views. It is an honour to a part of this forum that will guide development in the Region and beyond.