On the eve of the “China – Central Asia 2025” Summit, the Forum on Biosafety and Innovations in Public Health took place in Astana.
The event was organized by Sun Yat-sen University of Shenzhen with the support of the Guangdong–CIS International Alliance. The forum brought together representatives of government authorities, leading medical universities, and research institutions from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is symbolic that the event coincided with Medical Workers’ Day, celebrated in Kazakhstan.
The forum served as a platform to address transnational challenges in biosafety and public health, share advanced experience, and promote cooperation within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
On behalf of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Zhaksylyk, Head of the Department of Medical Science and Innovative Technologies, delivered the opening remarks. His speech provided strong momentum for the discussions that followed.
As a co-organizer of the forum, Vice-Rector of Astana Medical University Zarina Shulgau welcomed the participants. She emphasized the importance of this platform as a foundation for continued collaboration in healthcare, biosafety, and medical innovations.
“Contemporary challenges in epidemiology and biosecurity require not only national-level responses but also deep intergovernmental coordination. Kazakhstan is ready to act as a bridge between Central Asia and China on issues of biosafety and public health. Today in Astana, we have a unique opportunity to lay the foundation for a new architecture of medical security across Eurasia”, - the Vice-Rector stated.
Dr. Qian Jun, Dean of Sun Yat-sen University, spoke about the existing collaboration between China and Kazakhstan. The university is a leading institution in biomedical research, specializing in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
“Over the past year and a half, our cooperation with Kazakhstan has yielded significant results. This year, a decision was made to establish a joint public health laboratory at Sun Yat-sen University. A corresponding laboratory will also be opened at Astana Medical University. We are ready to strengthen scientific and academic exchanges in the field of biosafety, train specialists, and implement joint projects”, - noted Dr. Qian Jun.
The ideas voiced during the forum provided valuable guidance for enhancing China–Central Asia cooperation. The next step is the announcement of a joint initiative on biosafety and public health involving the countries of Central Asia and China. This initiative reflects the collective wisdom of five nations and offers renewed momentum for global public health governance.
Health knows no borders, and cooperation remains the only viable path toward jointly addressing international biosafety challenges.
The forum concluded with a group photo session and informal discussions among participants, laying the groundwork for future practical steps to implement the initiatives proposed during the event.
