GX Foundation Leads Hong Kong's Top Medical Experts to Astana Promoting "Belt and Road" High-End Medical Cooperation

GX Foundation (GX), together with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Nazarbayev University, co-hosted the seminar “Global Medical Frontiers: Innovation, Resilience and Sharing” at the Senate Hall of Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan on 5 October. The event brought together 15 leading medical experts from China and overseas and over 100 industry leaders to exchange views on the latest developments and emerging trends in medical science and healthcare practice, and to explore the opportunities brought by global health cooperation.

In his opening address, Timur Slamzhanovich SULTANGAZIYEV, First Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stated the following, "GX Foundation has significant experience in healthcare and humanitarian projects in different countries. We believe this experience can open opportunities for cooperation with Kazakhstan, particularly in public health, training of healthcare professionals, research, medical technologies and emergency preparedness.

Chairman LEUNG Chun-ying expressed gratitude to all the guest speakers for their participation and pointed out, " Thirteen years ago, President Xi Jinping first proposed the concepts of jointly building the 'Silk Road Economic Belt' and 'people-to-people connectivity' at Nazarbayev University, which inspired and facilitated the establishment and development of GX. Today, we are pleased to have organized this symposium based on the collaboration between GX and Nazarbayev University, and we look forward to further building on these achievements in the future."

Cheng Kefan, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Dr. Skender SYLA, WHO Representative to Kazakhstan and Head of the WHO Country Office; and Professor Waqar AHMAD, President of Nazarbayev University, also delivered remarks in turn, expressing high expectations for deepening China–Kazakhstan medical and health cooperation.

Bringing Together Top Experts from Hong Kong and Overseas to Share Cutting-Edge Medical Insights

The subsequent keynote presentation session brought together several leading experts from Hong Kong and overseas, who shared their valuable insights on key issues including clinical technology, healthcare system management and traditional medicine, vector-borne diseases, human settlements and disaster response, and medical education and humanitarian aid talent.

The distinguished speakers included: Prof. CHAN Ying-yang, Emily, CEO, GX Foundation; Prof. LO Yuk-ming, Dennis, Vice-Chancellor and President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. LAM Shun-chiu, Dennis, Professor (Clinical) and Director of the International Eye Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen;  Prof. CHIU Wai-yan, Philip, Dean of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. TAM Kwong-hang, Paul, Chair Professor and Vice President, Macau University of Science and Technology; Emeritus Professor and Honorary Clinical Professor, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Asel MEDRESOVA, Cardiac Surgeon, National Research Cardiac Surgery Center University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan; Prof. WU Che-yuen, Justin, Associate Dean (Health Systems) and Professor, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. CHAN Siu-chee, Sophia, Secretary for Food and Health of the Government of the HKSAR, China (2017 – 2022); Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care and Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong; Prof. LAU Chak-sing, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) and Dean of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Dr. KO Wing-man, Secretary for Food and Health of the Government of the HKSAR, China (2012-2017); Chairman, TCM All-sector Hong Kong Centre; Dr. Saltanat YEGEUBAYEVA, Coordinator of the Public Health Project Office, National Center for Public Health, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Prof. Vanessa BARRS, Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong; Albina UTEMURATOVA, Head of the Department for Control of Especially Dangerous Infections, Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Dr. Anar TURMUKHAMBETOVA, Chairperson of the Management Board - Rector, Astana Medical University; and Prof. Huck Hui NG, Vice President for Medicine and Dean of School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University.

MOU Lays Foundation for Deepening Belt and Road Health Cooperation

As a hub of the Belt and Road Initiative, Kazakhstan serves as an important bridge connecting East and West. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between GX Foundation and Nazarbayev University in November 2025 aims to lay the foundation for bilateral cooperation in professional exchanges, joint activities, internships and collaborative research, with a commitment to jointly advancing international cooperation in medical education, clinical practice and public health through an equal partnership.

The event provided a valuable platform for medical experts from various countries to exchange views. Participants reached broad consensus on issues including medical innovation, health system resilience and humanitarian aid, and looked forward to deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road framework in the future to jointly advance the development of global public health.