On the afternoon of January 26, just before the upcoming Chinese New Year, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with representatives of foreign experts who were awarded the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, as well as other foreign experts working in China, at the Great Hall of the People. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang was also present. Among the invited experts was Professor David James Kerr, an honorary professor at Sichuan University, a distinguished foreign expert at our institution, and a professor at Oxford University. He was the first to speak, offering suggestions on Sino-British medical education and collaborative cancer research.

 

During the meeting, Premier Li extended his New Year greetings and sincere regards to the foreign experts, expressing gratitude for their long-standing support of China’s modernization efforts. He acknowledged the valuable contributions made by these experts over the years and emphasized that their experiences in China are a vivid representation of the country’s positive interaction and deep integration with the world.

 

In his speech, Professor Kerr commended the Chinese government for its support of foreign experts engaged in scientific research. He reflected on his close cooperation with West China Hospital and the strong, familial bonds developed over the years. He highly praised our institution’s first-rate clinical services, scientific innovation capabilities, and its strong commitment to medical education and talent cultivation. He focused particularly on the successful development of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Joint Research Center. Professor Kerr believes that the center not only provides an important platform for Sino-British research cooperation in gastrointestinal cancer but also creates vast opportunities for expanding collaboration into other scientific fields in the future.

 

Regarding cancer prevention and treatment, Professor Kerr suggested that both governments take the lead in establishing a "Sino-British Cancer Prevention and Treatment Alliance." This initiative would bring together top experts from both countries to collaborate, focusing on breakthroughs in key areas such as disease mechanisms, treatment technologies, and policy support, ultimately benefiting the citizens of both nations and the global community.