On March 30, 2026, the China-Nigeria Public Health Symposium was successfully held in Abuja, Nigeria. Themed “Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response-Insights from China and Nigeria,” the symposium was jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute for Infectious Diseases. As a national-level health event, the symposium brought together representatives from multiple Nigerian ministries, the World Health Organization country office in Nigeria, and the Chinese delegation. Mr. WANG Yingqi, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, attended the symposium on behalf of Ambassador YU Dunhai.

Academician George F. Gao, professor at the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) and the director of the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases, led a Chinese delegation to the symposium. The delegation also included researchers from IMCAS, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Peking University.

During the symposium, Prof. George F. Gao delivered a keynote address titled “Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness and Response: China Experience,” in which he comprehensively shared China’s practices and achievements in infectious disease surveillance, early warning systems, emergency response, scientific research, and international collaboration.

On the margins of the symposium, the Chinese delegation held in-depth discussions with Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and other senior Nigerian officials. The two sides reached important consensus on strengthening infectious disease surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory capacity, advancing vaccine research and development, promoting technology transfer, and deepening South-South cooperation.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to global public health and infectious disease control, Prof. George F. Gao was presented with the Award of Excellence by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria.

The symposium has established a significant platform for China-Nigeria public health cooperation. It will further deepen practical collaboration between the two countries, help build a more resilient public health system in Africa, and contribute to the shared vision of a Global Community of Health for All.

Award of Excellence by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria (Image by WANG Likui)